From July 22 to 23, 2026, the UCC of the IMP in Yaounde will host a crucial workshop on the certification of herbal medicines. Objective: to train traditional therapists, researchers and pharmacists on quality and safety standards in order to structure and modernize the traditional medicine.
A historic opportunity is opening up for traditional medicine practitioners in Cameroon. Faced with the imperative of reconciling ancestral knowledge and modern science requirements, the Food and Medicinal Plant (MINRESI) Control and Certification Unit is organizing a crucial event. On July 22 and 23, 2026, the
IMPM conference room in Ngoa-Ekele (Yaounde) will host an intensive training workshop under the theme: * OIT Certification of Herbal Medicines and Derivatives
A Public Health and Local Economy Issue
In Cameroon, a large part of the population relies on traditional pharmacopoeia to treat themselves. However, the frequent lack of standardization, risks related to dosage and lack of traceability still hinder full integration of this sector into the local pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of this workshop is precisely to break down these barriers. It is about equipping participants with the necessary skills to transform a craft business into a structured enterprise, in line with national and international standards.
For two days, participants will learn to master the circuit of organization and development of traditional medicine, how to prepare a practical certification file and how to rigorously apply notions of drug hygiene, safety and botanical identification. The ambition is clear: to enable traditional therapists and researchers to produce and register high-quality medicines, thus paving the way for financial and structural support from the government.
A synergy of actors for a strong value chain
The strength of this workshop is its inclusive approach. It brings together the entire value chain: traditional therapists, herbalists, collectors, sellers and exporters of medicinal plants, but also doctors, pharmacists, researchers and students in science (botanics, biochemistry, chemistry).
By creating this framework of direct collaboration with the public administration, the event sets a milestone for implementing the law governing the organization of traditional medicine in Cameroon. Participants will no longer be mere practitioners, but leaders who can lead their peers to a major economic transition.
