The Federal Government has launched a new framework to regulate online pharmacy services with the inauguration of the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy (NEPP) and its Strategic Implementation Plan in Abuja.
Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the policy is designed to modernise healthcare delivery, regulate the production and sale of medicines, and ensure Nigerians have access to safe, affordable, and quality-assured pharmaceuticals, regardless of location.
Represented by Olubumi Aribeana, Director of Food and Drug Services, Pate noted that while digital platforms have transformed many sectors, pharmaceutical sales, especially online, have remained largely fragmented and weakly regulated. This, he said, has allowed substandard and falsified medicines, unlicensed vendors, and misinformation to thrive.
He explained that NEPP provides a clear and enforceable framework for electronic pharmacy services, ensuring innovation does not compromise patient safety. Key provisions include licensing and accreditation standards for digital pharmacy platforms, real-time monitoring and traceability of medicines, and improved access to essential drugs, particularly in underserved and remote communities.
The minister added that the policy promotes accountability across the pharmaceutical value chain and was developed through extensive collaboration involving the Ministry of Health, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), NAFDAC, NITDA, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed, Registrar and CEO of the PCN, said the policy gives strategic direction to the regulation of e-pharmacy services, noting that implementing regulations have already been approved by the Minister of Health and endorsed by the Minister of Justice.
Other stakeholders welcomed the initiative. Munir Elelu of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation described NEPP as a timely innovation that would strengthen access to medicines through primary healthcare centres and community services. Pharmachain Technologies CEO, David Adeyemi, who participated in drafting the policy, praised the collaborative effort and expressed confidence in its implementation.
The NEPP marks a major step in bringing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector in line with digital health realities while prioritising patient safety and access. (NAN)
