Import substitution within the framework of global trade in Medicinal Plants: A potential consideration for homologated phytomedicines in Cameroon

Abstract:

This initiative is an advocacy drive to industrialize the herbal product industry through import substitution. Cameroon has to conform and align with the common policy widely used by resource limited countries to minimize dependence on Western nations and increase self-sufficiency in home-made products. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of import substitution on the Phytomedicine industry in Cameroon
We carried out a pilot survey study in August 2024 during the traditional medicine (TM) day, that involved an inventory of actors in medicinal plant products. Data was collected through a structured design questionnaire from tradi-practitioners on improved traditional medicines. The Survey of MTA approved for use in Cameroon were also investigated from the database of the Division of Pharmacy, Medicine and Laboratories (DPM) and state research institutions in TM Preliminary results from pulled data identified 100 tradipractioners that had products on display during the trade fare, with socio-demographic informations. We obtained at least 14 approved MTA products from the DPML data base. We observed challenging cases of products already commercialized without homologated authorization. The tradi-practitioners recommended that for a sustainable import substitution drive for phytomedicine in Cameroon, the government first of all needs to enact into law the activities and regulation of herbal medicine activities in the primary health care sector in Cameroon.