Board Members of IMPM validated the institute's action plan in Yaounde last Thursday Januray 18, 2013.

The Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies (IMPM), placed under the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, will in 2013 function with a budget of FCFA 656,110,000 to beef up its activities of carrying out research on diseases as well as plant studies. Of this amount, FCFA 191,110,000 will be used for investment while FCFA 465,000,000 will go into the different programmes being piloted by the institute. This was one of the outcomes of the institute's 18th Board of Directors meeting which held in its conference hall on January 18 chaired by IMPM's Board Chair, Prof. Rose Leke née Gana.

Given that the country is in the era of result-based management with the programme budget, IMPM, its Director, Prof. J.L. Essame Oyono, said has developed programmes that will span from 2013 through 2015. He said focus will be on reinforcing research as well as in engaging activities that give a push to research. "Our research activities are contained in the five different research programmes we are undertaking. These include, programmes in malaria, HIV/AIDS, emerging diseases, medicinal plants and traditional medicines as well as food and nutrition," he said. And to boost research, IMPM intends to acquire state-of-the-art equipment that live up to the standard of modern research, functional and competitive laboratories as well as ensure a sound and conducive working environment for its technical and administrative staff. The institute will equally finalise the rehabilitation of its laboratories, put in place a data bank of research publications and in-house research results.

Created in 1974 and reorganised in 1993, the Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies has as mission to lead research, prevent, diagnose and treat priority pathologies caused by the problems of public health in the country, develop appropriate technologies for improved traditional medicines and promote research results, among others.