The Federal Government on Saturday unveiled the 2026 Electronic Pharmacy (e-Pharmacy) Regulation in Abuja to improve access to medicines and enhance patient safety.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the initiative was part of efforts to digitise healthcare delivery and achieve Universal Health Coverage under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Pate, who spoke at the official launch of the regulation developed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, said the framework would establish a safe and regulated national e-pharmacy ecosystem.
“At the heart of these regulations is a clear vision to establish a safe, accessible, and fully regulated national e-pharmacy ecosystem that leverages digital technology to improve health outcomes,” he said.
He added that the regulation would ensure reliable access to medicines, support treatment adherence through digital tools, and enable the capture of critical health data to strengthen the healthcare system.
The minister said the framework covers key aspects of digital pharmacy operations, including registration and licensing, prescription management, medicines supply and quality assurance, data privacy and security, monitoring and compliance, as well as consumer protection.
He described the development as a major step in aligning pharmacy practice in Nigeria with global health standards and 21st-century realities.
“These provisions apply to all stakeholders in the e-pharmacy ecosystem, including operators, licensed pharmacists, healthcare providers, regulators, and consumers,” Pate said.
He warned operators to comply with the new regulation, stressing that the era of operating without proper oversight had ended.
“We have issued a clear warning to those who would exploit the digital space to peddle substandard and falsified medicines or place profit above patient safety. Nigeria’s regulatory institutions are alert and resolute in their duty to protect citizens,” he added.
Pate also called on investors, development partners, and international organisations to support Nigeria’s digital health drive, noting that the country is building a responsive and evidence-based regulatory environment.
In his presentation, the Registrar of the council, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, said the regulation was developed through collaboration with stakeholders, including technology innovators, healthcare providers, and legal experts.
He said the framework balances accessibility, security, and accountability, ensuring that ethical standards and public trust are maintained in digital pharmaceutical services.
According to him, the regulation provides a comprehensive legal and technical framework for the registration, licensing, operation, and oversight of e-pharmacy services in Nigeria.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Abisola Adegoke, said the regulation would improve medicine traceability, strengthen prescription practices, and expand access to safe pharmaceutical services, particularly in underserved areas.
She commended the minister and the council for the initiative, describing it as a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Representatives of the World Health Organization, World Bank, the PVAC, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, also endorsed the regulation and called for its immediate implementation.