By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, marking a major step toward regulating online pharmaceutical services and improving access to quality medicines in Nigeria.
The policy was unveiled on Monday in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, who said it would provide a clear framework for the production, distribution and sale of medicines through digital platforms. He was represented at the event by the Director of Food and Drug Services in the ministry, Olubumi Aribeana.
Pate said the initiative was designed to modernize healthcare delivery and ensure Nigerians have access to affordable, quality-assured medicines regardless of location. He noted that while digital platforms had transformed many sectors of the economy, the pharmaceutical space remained fragmented, creating room for substandard drugs, unlicensed vendors and misinformation.
According to him, the new policy establishes licensing and accreditation standards for e-pharmacy platforms, enables monitoring and traceability of medicines, and improves access to essential drugs, especially in underserved and remote communities.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, said the Council, as the implementing agency, had developed supporting regulations already approved by the Minister of Health and endorsed by the Minister of Justice.
Other stakeholders, including representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation and Pharmachain Technologies, described the policy as a positive innovation and expressed confidence that it would be effectively implemented to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
