By Ojoma Akor
The federal government of Nigeria has launched the Electronic Pharmacy (e-pharmacy) Regulations, 2026, to regulate the online sale, distribution, and dispensing of drugs.
Speaking during the ceremony on Friday in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the regulations are a decisive step to ensure that pharmacy practice in Nigeria aligns with national and global health priorities, which reflect the realities of the 21st Century.
He said the E-Pharmacy Regulations provide a comprehensive framework to guide the practice of e-pharmacy in Nigeria, covering every facet of digital pharmacy operations: registration and licensing, prescription management, medicines supply and quality assurance, data privacy and security, monitoring and compliance, and consumer protection.
He said these provisions apply to all stakeholders in the e-pharmacy ecosystem: operators, licensed pharmacists, healthcare providers, regulators, and consumers.
He said, ” By standardizing practices and improving transparency, the regulations strengthen traceability in medicines distribution, enable evidence-based monitoring, and protect public health while supporting innovation and investment.
“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.”
According to him, by making medicines reliably available, supporting adherence through digital tools, and capturing critical health data, e-pharmacy directly advances Universal Health Coverage (UHC) while strengthening the health system.
The minister told e-pharmacy operators and technology companies that the era of operating in a grey area is over.
He said, “Engage proactively with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and design your platforms with patient safety at the center. Those who comply will find a partner regulator; those who do not will find an enforcer.
“To our development partners, international organizations, and investors, Nigeria is open for business in digital health. We are building a regulatory environment that is world-class, evidence-based, and responsive, and we invite your partnership, investment, and expertise as we implement and continuously strengthen this framework.”
He also said that the government has issued a clear warning to those who would exploit the digital space to peddle substandard and falsified medicines, or place profit above patient safety.
The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed said that the need to regulate online pharmacy operations in Nigeria became more pertinent with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated interest in e-commerce with an unprecedented rise in investment in health, and use of digital tools such as medical devices to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide array of medical conditions.
He said the pandemic also highlighted long-running deficiencies in health systems, including the gross inefficiencies of pharmaceutical supply chains, especially in Africa.
Pharmacist Ahmed said this has led to increased adoption of digitized distribution of essential medicines through cost-effective, technology-enabled business models.
He said, “For decades, the PCN has stood as the regulator of pharmacy education, training, practice, and business in all aspects and ramifications. This has been the primary responsibility of the PCN. since its establishment in 1936.
“However, as the world pivots towards a digital direction, how patients access life-saving medications has evolved. Today, we meet that evolution with a robust, modern framework designed to ensure that ethical standards, honesty, or trustworthiness are not compromised to safeguard customers from potential risks.”
The registrar explained that the Electronic Pharmacy Regulations 2026 establish a comprehensive legal and technical framework for the registration, licensing, operation, and oversight of digital pharmaceutical services.
Dr. Abdul Muktar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), said the launch of the E-Pharmacy regulation is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transformation agenda, which is being implemented in the healthcare sector, especially in local manufacturing.
He said the main goal is to support local production of health care products and pharmaceuticals.
He said, “One of the key things that is really critical to that is making sure there’s an efficient ecosystem, that is robust, and that is capable of enhancing and providing that enabling environment. So regulation is actually part of the ecosystem. This digitization program is really important and very timely.”
A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria office, Dr. Omotayo Hazmat, said it was important to implement and enforce the E-Pharmacy regulation.
He said, “We have started buying drugs online in the country without regulation, and it means it is in the hands of quacks. So this is a good step forward, but we should please implement the regulation and enforce it. On that basis, I want to congratulate the country again on these steps for having this framework, and to express our own commitment, collaboration, and support for the council.”
Dr. Onoriode Ezire, a representative of the World Bank, said the newly launched regulation has the capacity to improve health care service delivery in Nigeria and enhance the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goal.
Pharm. Ibrahim Tanko Ayuba, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria ( PSN), commended all those who worked on the regulations.
He enjoined all stakeholders to cooperate to ensure that the regulations are implemented this year.
