Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies in Cameroon

PROSPECTS

Environmental factors drive demand for cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is one of the largest consumer health categories in Cameroon. The category continued to record robust current value sales growth in 2018 thanks to the frequent incidence of colds, coughs, allergies and sore throats among local consumers arising from alternating wet and dry weather conditions and increasing environmental pollution.

Demand for paediatric cough, cold and allergy remedies remains strong

Paediatric cough, cold and allergy remedies continued to post healthy growth in retail volume and current value sales in 2018. As was the case with adult products, Cameroon’s changeable climate and increasing air pollution in urban areas helped to sustain strong demand for paediatric varieties.

Rising incomes set to make legal products more accessible

Rising income levels in Cameroon should also have a positive impact on the performance of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies over the forecast period. In particular, the category looks set to benefit as legal branded products or generics become more accessible to lower-middle-income consumers, many of whom could previously only afford potentially harmful unbranded and counterfeit alternatives.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

International brands dominate due to reputational and distribution advantages

International brands, many of which are manufactured under licence, continued to dominate cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Cameroon in 2018. This reflected the fact that local consumers tend to have greater confidence in the efficacy and safety of international brands, which are offered in high quality packaging that provides clear and detailed information on dosage, risks and side effects.

Local producers expected to focus on pushing cheaper generics

In line with its goal of making healthcare more affordable for citizens, over the forecast period Cameroon’s Ministry of Health will continue to promote domestic production of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, including generics. Although local companies lack the capacity to manufacture adult and paediatric products of this type in quantities sufficient to meet domestic demand, they are expected to push to improve distribution of their competitively priced generics via chemists/pharmacies.

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