The Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE) sets health policy rules. Ten regional delegations support implementation, while 189 health districts (Districts de Santé) organise local healthcare. A local health facility (formation sanitaire) is known as a FOSA. Depending on its level, it may provide care through an Ambulatory Health Centre (Centre de Santé Ambulatoire), abbreviated CSA, and an Integrated Health Centre (Centre de Santé Intégré), abbreviated CSI, through a District Medical Centre (Centre Médical d’Arrondissement), abbreviated CMA, and a District Hospital (Hôpital de District), abbreviated HD, up to a Regional Hospital or Regional Annex Hospital (Hôpital Régional Annexe), abbreviated HR/HRA, a Central Hospital (Hôpital Central) or General Hospital (Hôpital Général), abbreviated HC/HG, and specialised clinics. Before treatment, healthcare includes health promotion, hygiene, nutrition, family planning, antenatal care, HIV and other testing, preventive examinations, and routine and catch-up vaccinations. The national vaccination strategy applies from 2024 to 2028. The DTP3 vaccination rate was 82.5 percent in 2023/2024. The RTS,S malaria vaccine is administered in four doses in 42 priority health districts. Vaccination campaigns include polio, HPV, yellow fever, measles and meningitis. Community Health Workers (Agents de Santé Communautaire) support health education, early detection, follow-up and links with local facilities. For health problems, treatment often begins at a CSI, CMA, private facility or pharmacy (officine). More serious or complicated cases are referred to an HD, regional hospital or central hospital. The planned referral and counter-referral system does not work equally reliably everywhere. Distance, transport, unsafe roads, staff shortages and medicine shortages make access particularly difficult in the Far North, North, Adamawa and East regions, as well as in the North-West and South-West regions. Malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition, and maternal and newborn care are among the common burdens. Non-communicable diseases and mental health are also becoming more important in community-based care. Medicines and diagnostic products are distributed through the state supply system, from the National Medical Supply Centre (CENAME) through regional procurement and distribution structures to facilities and pharmacies. Generic essential medicines are prioritised. A stockout can therefore delay treatment. Medicines from street vendors carry additional quality and counterfeit risks. Traditional medicine is legally organised under Law No. 2024/018, while quality assessment, scientific evidence and cooperation with the formal system continue to develop. For acute warning signs, take the shortest safe route to the nearest emergency department or nearest HD, HR, HG or HC. The public emergency coordination centre (CCOUSP) can be reached at 1510. A nationally uniform ambulance service and a uniform access route for all emergencies are not currently documented; transport and local options therefore need to be checked specifically. Healthcare is generally open to the population through public, private and traditional providers. Registration in the CSU health coverage scheme (CSU) may require, depending on the procedure, a national identity card, birth certificate, residence card, passport or driving licence. The portal lists certain free prevention and health-promotion services nationwide. Consultations and malaria treatment for children aged zero to five, as well as care for HIV, tuberculosis and onchocerciasis, are listed as free. The eligible package for maternal and newborn care may require a contribution of 6,000 FCFA; current eligibility depends on the health district and the programme. This does not establish comprehensive free care for everyone, and direct payments remain a barrier to access. Patients are entitled to dignity, privacy, confidentiality and protection of their medical records. Consent and understandable information are also required when health data are processed electronically. Depending on the CSU procedure, rights may include correction, deletion, data portability and restriction of access. Correct identity and health information, retained vaccination and CSU records, and compliance with referrals, prescriptions and follow-up appointments help with treatment. After treatment, the same health facility or the responsible health district usually provides further follow-up. After childbirth, an initial contact within two days is recommended; follow-up for mother and child continues until 42 days after birth. Further follow-up may concern antiretroviral HIV therapy, viral load, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, tuberculosis treatment, chronic diseases, mental health difficulties, rehabilitation and palliative care. Community services can help with follow-up, but they do not reach people reliably everywhere.
Health in Cameroon
Healthcare in Cameroon combines public, private, faith-based and traditional services. The usual first points of contact are local health facilities, pharmacies or private providers; more serious cases are referred to a hospital. Access and quality depend, among other things, on region, distance, transport, staff, medicine stocks and the services available.
Tip
Plan your healthcare in Cameroon according to urgency and the facility you can reach, not only according to the provider’s name. For acute warning signs, the fastest safe route to an emergency department matters; for planned care, assessment usually begins at a local FOSA. Before treatment, check which service is actually available in your health district and whether it is free or requires a contribution.