Overview

A strong pharmacovigilance system ensures that every patient—whether receiving treatment for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, or other diseases—can trust that their medicines are safe and effective.

With funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and implemented by Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, Directorate of Pharmacy, Medicine and Laboratories (DPML), Management Sciences for Health (MSH) completed a 10-month technical assistance project that concluded in December 2025 to strengthen Cameroon’s national system for surveillance of health products. 

The project was designed to strengthen institutional capacity and advance Cameroon’s National Regulatory Authority toward World Health Organization Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Maturity Level 3, in line with Global Fund priorities on regulatory systems strengthening and health product safety, building the regulatory foundations required to ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of medicines in Cameroon.  

Key Results 

Over the project period, MSH supported national authorities to deliver core regulatory tools and frameworks that underpin a sustainable vigilance system: 

• Validation of the National Guide to Good Vigilance Practices, a cornerstone policy document for pharmacovigilance in Cameroon 

• Development and validation of 13 national surveillance data collection tools, enabling standardized reporting and analysis of adverse events 

• Creation of a comprehensive national training program and materials for vigilance actors across the health system 

• Development of 12 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide surveillance, reporting, and regulatory decision-making 

These deliverables strengthen regulatory oversight, support data-driven action, and reinforce Cameroon’s capacity to safeguard the quality and safety of health products. 

Strengthening Systems for Sustainable Impact 

As the project concludes, the focus shifts from development to implementation, enforcement, and sustainability. The validated policies, tools, and training materials provide the institutional foundation required to advance to and sustain GBT Maturity Level 3, increasing patient safety in Cameroon and contributing to stronger, safer health systems.