The Federal Government has unveiled a landmark policy aimed at transforming and regulating online pharmacy services across Nigeria, a move designed to ensure safe, quality-assured medicines are accessible to all citizens — especially as digital health platforms continue to grow. The National Electronic Pharmacy Policy (NEPP) and its strategic implementation plan were launched in Abuja, marking a new era in the oversight of e-pharmacy operations.
A New Framework for Digital Medicine Commerce
Healthcare and technology are increasingly intersecting, with online platforms playing a larger role in how Nigerians access medicines and pharmaceutical services. However, this rapid digital shift has also opened the door to serious risks — including sales of substandard or falsified drugs, unregulated vendors, and misleading health information. The new policy directly addresses these gaps by providing a clear, enforceable framework to govern electronic pharmacy services nationwide.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the NEPP is designed to modernise the healthcare delivery system and ensure that every Nigerian — regardless of location — can access safe, affordable and quality-assured medicines through online channels.
Why Regulation Is Urgently Needed
Online pharmacies have been operating in a largely fragmented digital environment, with limited oversight from regulatory bodies. This lack of strict governance created loopholes that undermined public safety and allowed unlicensed vendors to proliferate. In some cases, patients were reportedly exposed to drugs of questionable authenticity or effectiveness, heightening concerns about health risks and medical complications.
Rather than stymie innovation, the NEPP seeks to balance technological advancement with patient safety, ensuring that Nigerians benefit from modern delivery systems without sacrificing quality control.
Key Elements of the NEPP
The National Electronic Pharmacy Policy introduces several important measures to strengthen the regulation of online pharmaceutical services:
- Licensing and Accreditation Standards: All online pharmacy platforms must be registered and accredited under clearly defined standards to ensure legitimacy and accountability.
- Monitoring and Traceability: The policy enables real-time monitoring of pharmaceutical products sold through digital platforms, helping authorities trace the origin and distribution of medicines.
- Consumer Protection: By enforcing strict standards, the policy aims to protect citizens from falsified or substandard medications, especially in underserved and remote communities where traditional pharmacy services are limited.
- Accountability Across the Value Chain: The NEPP promotes transparency and greater responsibility among all actors — from online vendors to distributors and regulators.
These reforms reflect a coordinated effort among several agencies and stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), NAFDAC, NITDA, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) — each playing a role in shaping digital governance, data protection, and infrastructure frameworks.
Regulatory Implementation and Collaboration
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) will play a central role as the implementing agency for the new policy. Its responsibilities will include overseeing the licensing of digital pharmacy platforms and ensuring compliance with the regulatory standards set by the NEPP. The policy’s legal foundation has been established through approval by the Coordinating Minister of Health and endorsement by the Minister of Justice, giving it the authority needed for enforcement.
Broad Benefits for Nigerians
The introduction of the NEPP is expected to deliver multiple benefits for both healthcare consumers and the broader health sector:
- Improved Access to Medicines: Digital channels make it easier for patients — especially those in rural or underserved areas — to order essential drugs and preventative treatments without the need to travel long distances.
- Enhanced Safety and Quality Control: With licensing, monitoring and traceability mechanisms in place, Nigerians will have greater confidence that the medicines they receive through online pharmacies are authentic and meet regulatory standards.
- Support for Public Health Goals: The policy also intersects with efforts to improve primary healthcare delivery and expand services like family planning through verified digital platforms, broadening access and reducing health inequities.
Addressing Past Challenges in Online Drug Sales
The move to regulate electronic pharmacies aligns with earlier government efforts to curb fraudulent online drug sales. The House of Representatives, for example, adopted measures calling for coordinated action to stem the sale of counterfeit and toxic drugs online, with recommendations to involve multiple agencies in monitoring and enforcement.
Furthermore, past enforcement actions by the PCN against illegal pharmaceutical outlets — including closures of numerous unregistered medicine shops — underscored the urgency of more robust regulation.
