The Institute for Medical Research and Studies of Medicinal Plants is a Cameroonian public scientific and technical establishment, created by decree n ° 74/888 of October 31, 1974 and reorganized by decree n ° 2019/686 of Dec 26. 2019.
It is placed under the technical supervision of the ministry in charge of scientific research and under the financial supervision of the ministry in charge of finance.
Mission:
The Institute has the task (Article 3 of Decree No. 2019/686 of 26 December 2019).
- to develop and carry out basic and applied research programs ;
- to ensure the development of research and control in the medical fields, medicinal and nutritional plants of the populations;
- to value and promote the results of research and partnerships in its area of expertise.
As such, the Institute is responsible for:
a. in terms of developing and implementing basic and applied research programs :
- to contribute to the identification of health problems, in liaison with the competent services, and to propose to the government appropriate control tools;
- to carry out research on priority pathologies as defined by the major programs set up in the sectoral strategy of the Ministry in charge of Public Health and the World Health Organization;
- determine the nutritional value and health properties of food products;
- assess the nutritional status of populations, develop food composition tables and formulate diets adapted to vulnerable populations;
- to conduct research with a view to strengthening the capacities of traditional medicine with the aim of integrating it into primary health care;
b. in terms of research development and control:
- to develop new technologies with the aim of advancing knowledge on new pathologies and to develop advanced technologies for the prevention, control and diagnosis of these;
- to develop appropriate and inexpensive technologies for processing food and improving its nutritional value;
- identify research needs with potential users and support them in the search for appropriate solutions;
- provide training and further training for scientific and technical staff in the various operational structures;
- to certify food and pharmaceutical products based on medicinal plants, in conjunction with the administrations and organizations concerned;
- ensuring the sanitary quality control of food and medicinal plants dedicated to export, in conjunction with the administrations and bodies concerned;
vs. in the matter è re valorisation and promotion of research results and partnerships:
- to promote research and the transformation of medicinal plants into essential medicines and improved traditional medicines as recommended by the World Health Organization;
- ensure wide dissemination of research results which may be exploited by economic operators, in conjunction with the media, the services and the competent bodies;
- directly ensuring the production and enhancing the products resulting from research in the medical fields and medicinal plants;
- to provide services in its area of competence, for the benefit of the State, its branches or third parties, for the development of its activities;
- to establish partnerships with any other public or private body, locally or abroad, which can contribute to the achievement of its social object; to provide institutional support and / or advice to the State, to its dismemberments and to any other institution which could request it, within the framework of the activities related to its social object.
Decree n ° 2019/686 of 26 December 2019 reorganizing and operating the IMPM
