Cameroon pharmaceutical production remains low

Cameroon faces challenges in its pharmaceutical industry, as local production currently covers only a small portion of the formal demand for medications. Despite high demand in cities like Yaoundé and in rural areas with fragile logistics, the country remains heavily dependent on imports.

Under the National Development Strategy 2020-2030, the chemical-pharmaceutical sector is identified as a priority for industrialization. The goal is to implement import-substitution policies to serve both the national and regional markets within the CEMAC zone. Key issues facing the sector include ensuring product quality, controlling distribution circuits, and combating illicit imports. To support regional health sovereignty, Cameroon ratified the treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency in 2021.