To register a pharmacy in Cameroon, the applicant must understand the scope of the pharmaceutical company in Cameroon. This scope is centered on the discovery, development, production, and marketing of drugs for use as a medication to be administered. To set up a pharmacy in Cameroon, the applicant must understand the steps to be taken in view to procure the license for a pharmaceutical establishment in Cameroon. To register a pharmacy in Cameroon, several facets are considered to wit; the pharmacy establishment license procedure, and the process to register a pharmacy establishment /company in Cameroon. These facets also regulate the pharmaceutical company in Cameroon.
The procedure to register a pharmacy in Cameroon is highly regulated because it touches on the health and welfare of citizens. As such, pharmacy establishment licensing and the process of registering a pharmaceutical company in Cameroon are subject to the strictest of procedure. These procedures are regulated by the MOH in Cameroon. The regulations not only guide the process to set up a pharmacy in Cameroon, but they also regulate their operations and ensure best practice models are put in place.
The laws guiding pharmacy establishments and operations in Cameroon include but not limited to;
- The 1990 law on the exercise and organization of the profession of pharmacy in Cameroon,
- The 1992 law fixing the modalities for the application of certain dispositions on the organization of the profession of pharmacy,
- The 1981 law as amended by the 1988 law fixing the procedure for pharmaceutical companies in Cameroon.
- Ministerial Decrees and Circulars in force.
We shall illustrate the procedure to register a pharmacy establishment license in Cameroon and the process of registering a pharmaceutical company in Cameroon.
PROCEDURE TO REGISTER A PHARMACY IN CAMEROON
To register a pharmacy establishment in Cameroon, several steps have to be engaged. The license once granted permits the grantee to operate an establishment for the commercialization of pharmaceutical products under a retail sales system. The steps for the grant of a pharmacy establishment license include;
- The procedure for the grant of an authorization for the exercise of the profession of pharmacist for private clientele
- The grant of the license to operate a pharmaceutical establishment.
PROCEDURE FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF PHARMACIST FOR PRIVATE CLIENTELE
Any person desirous to register a pharmacy establishment in Cameroon must fulfill the conditions for the grant of a pharmacy establishment license. This condition begins with the procurement of an authorization to exercise the profession of pharmacist for private clientele. The procurement of this authorization is illustrated as follows;
Preconditions
- Be of Cameroonian nationality or provide an agreement of reciprocity between Cameroon and country of origin
- Haven paid all contributions to the council of pharmacist
- Have an insurance policy for professional risk
- have a letter of release etc.
Documents to be furnished
The documents to register a pharmacy establishment include;
- stamped application
- certificate of nationality of less than 3 months
- certified copy of birth certificate of less than 3 months
- certified copy of doctorate degree in pharmacy etc.
PROCEDURE FOR GRANT OF A PHARMACY ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE IN VIEW TO REGISTER A PHARMACY IN CAMEROON
The procedure for the grant of a pharmaceutical establishment license can only be engaged after the fulfillment of the aforementioned procedure. After the grant of the license to register a pharmacy establishment in Cameroon, the beneficiary of the grant can set up a pharmacy for the commercialization of pharmaceutical products. The procedure for the grant of the license is illustrated as follows;
Preconditions to register a pharmacy in Cameroon
- Be a commercial establishment
- Be a pharmacist registered in the council of pharmacist in Cameroon
- Fulfil all tax requirements in Cameroon etc.
Documents to be furnished
The documents to be furnished in order to register a pharmacy establishment in Cameroon and procure the license include;
- Stamped application
- Valid tax payer’s card
- Valid attestation of non-indebtedness
- Localization plan
- Attestation of bank account etc.
SCOPE TO REGISTER A PHARMACY IN CAMEROON AND PROCURE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IN CAMEROON
Establishing a pharmaceutical company in Cameroon is subject to certain conditions and procedure. These conditions and procedure differ as it is dependent on;
- If it is aimed at distributing medical material and medical devices, or
- If is aimed at the wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals.
COMPANIES ESTABLISHED FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL MATERIALS AND DEVICES
In the process of establishing a pharmaceutical company in Cameroon, any promoter aimed at engaging in the distribution of medical materials and devices must fulfil certain conditions in view of a successful registration process. The procedure for the grant of the authorization is illustrated as follows;
Preconditions
The Promoter
- A copy of Birth Certificate
- A copy of Non-Crime Certificate etc.
The Technical Staff
- A copy of Birth Certificate
- A copy of Non-crime certificate etc.
Documents to be furnished
- A stamped application indicating certain elements of the activity
- Location Plan
- The constitution of the establishment etc.
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF WHOLESALE PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharmaceutical companies involved in wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals are subject to the grant of an agreement and proof of availability of the prescribed capital before they can become operational in Cameroon. This agreement can only be granted after the satisfaction of certain conditions by the promoter(s) and the provision of certain mandatory documents. The conditions to set up a pharmacy in this line of business is illustrated below;
Conditions/Documents to be satisfied and furnished by promoter(s)
- A certified copy of the certificate in Pharmacy
- A complete file of an application for the exercise of the profession of pharmacist for private clientele
- A justification of 5 years of professional experience or a certified copy of a certificate of specialization in pharmaceutical distribution accompanied by a justification of 2 years of experience etc.
Mandatory documents to be furnished by the promoter
The documents to be furnished to obtain a wholesale distribution pharmaceutical company license consist of;
- A stamped application
- Notarized act of company registration
- Localization plan of the company
- A detailed plan on the nature of the building in view of compliance with public access
- Organigram of the company etc.