The Federal Authorities, alongside different stakeholders within the well being sector, on Monday in Abuja inaugurated the Nationwide Digital Pharmacy Coverage (NEPP) and Strategic Implementation Plan to additional remodel the well being sector.
Talking in the course of the occasion, the Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, mentioned the coverage would regulate manufacturing and gross sales of prescription drugs and permit Nigerians entry to quality-assured medicines.
Represented by Olubumi Aribeana, the Director of Meals and Drug Companies on the ministry, Pate mentioned it was geared in direction of modernising the healthcare supply and permitting Nigerians entry to reasonably priced medication, regardless of the place they dwell.
In accordance with the minister, although the rise of digital platforms has remodeled almost each sector of the nation’s economic system, the pharmaceutical area has remained largely fragmented with restricted oversight of on-line medication gross sales.
He mentioned that the free-hand entry within the pharmaceutical sector had created harmful gaps, the place substandard and falsified medicines, unlicensed distributors, and misinformation thrived.
“Right this moment marks a daring step ahead in our collective mission to modernise healthcare supply and make sure that each Nigerian has entry to secure, reasonably priced, and quality-assured medicines—regardless of the place they dwell.
“The NEPP is our strategic response. It gives a transparent, enforceable framework for the regulation of digital pharmacy companies in Nigeria. It ensures that innovation doesn’t come on the expense of security.
“With this coverage, we’re setting the inspiration for a nationally coordinated e-pharmacy ecosystem that’s clear, safe, and patient-centred.
“It establishes licensing and accreditation requirements for digital pharmacy platforms, allows real-time monitoring and traceability of pharmaceutical merchandise, and improves entry to important medicines—particularly in underserved and distant communities,” he mentioned.
Pate mentioned that the platform would promote larger accountability for all actors within the pharmaceutical worth chain, including that the coverage is a product of in depth collaboration.
“I need to thank the Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), NAFDAC, and digital enablers—the Nationwide Data Know-how Improvement Company (NITDA).
“I additionally need to thank the Nigeria Knowledge Safety Fee (NDPC) and the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) for his or her crucial function in shaping the digital governance, information safety, and infrastructure frameworks that underpin this coverage,” he mentioned.
The Registrar/CEO of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed, mentioned the coverage would offer strategic path for regulation, particularly for the PCN being the implementing company.
“We’ve developed the regulation to information this specific endeavour. The regulation was accredited by the Coordinating Minister of Well being and endorsed by the Minister of Justice,” he mentioned.
In accordance with him, PCN is confidence that there won’t be any problem within the implementation of the coverage.
Munir Elelu, the director and workforce lead for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Basis, lauded the mission, describing it nearly as good innovation for Nigeria.
He mentioned that the mission can be minimize throughout for major healthcare centre companies and household planning companies at communities and underserved entities within the nation.
Mr David Adeyemi, CEO/Founding father of Pharmachain Applied sciences, who was a part of the workforce that drafted the coverage, recommended the trouble of the workforce in producing the coverage.
He recognized lack of implementation as a significant setback to most insurance policies in Nigeria, however assured that the NEPP wouldn’t be totally different. (NAN)
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