The Federal Government, in collaboration with key health sector stakeholders, on Monday in Abuja launched the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan as part of efforts to further reform the healthcare system.
At the inauguration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, explained that the policy is designed to regulate the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical products while ensuring Nigerians have access to safe and quality medicines.
Represented by the Director of Food and Drug Services at the ministry, Olubumi Aribeana, the minister noted that the initiative aims to modernise healthcare delivery and make affordable medicines accessible to Nigerians regardless of their location.
He added that although digital platforms have revolutionised most sectors of the economy, the pharmaceutical industry has remained largely disjointed, with minimal regulation of online drug sales.
He said that the free hand access in the pharmaceutical sector had created dangerous gaps, where substandard and falsified medicines, unlicensed vendors, and misinformation thrived.
“Today marks a bold step forward in our collective mission to modernise healthcare delivery and ensure that every Nigerian has access to safe, affordable, and quality-assured medicines—no matter where they live.
“The NEPP is our strategic response. It provides a clear, enforceable framework for the regulation of electronic pharmacy services in Nigeria. It ensures that innovation does not come at the expense of safety.
“With this policy, we are setting the foundation for a nationally coordinated e-pharmacy ecosystem that is transparent, secure, and patient-centred.
“It establishes licensing and accreditation standards for digital pharmacy platforms, enables real-time monitoring and traceability of pharmaceutical products, improves access to essential medicines—especially in underserved and remote communities,” he said.
Pate said that the platform would promote greater accountability for all actors in the pharmaceutical value chain, adding that the policy is a product of extensive collaboration.
“I want to thank the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, NAFDAC, digital enablers—the National Information Technology Development Agency.
“I also want to thank the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission for their critical role in shaping the digital governance, data protection, and infrastructure frameworks that underpin this policy,” he said
The Registrar/CEO, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed, said the policy would provide strategic direction for regulation, especially for PCN, being the implementing agency.
“We have developed the regulation to guide this particular endeavour. The regulation was approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and endorsed by the Minister of Justice,” he said.
According to him, PCN is confident that there will not be any challenge in the implementation of the policy.
The Director and team lead for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation, Munir Elelu, lauded the project, describing it as good innovation for Nigeria.
He said that the project would be cut across for primary healthcare centres services, family planning services, at communities and underserved entities in the country.
CEO/Founder, Pharmachain Technologies, Mr David Adeyemi, who was part of the team that drafted the policy, commended the effort of the team in producing the policy.
He identified the lack of implementation as a major setback to most policies in Nigeria, but assured that the NEPP would not be different.