The Federal Government has introduced new regulations to govern digital pharmacy operations in Nigeria, in a move aimed at curbing the spread of fake drugs, improving medicine safety and strengthening oversight of the country’s rapidly growing online pharmaceutical market.
The new framework, known as the Electronic Pharmacy Regulations 2026, was officially launched in Abuja on Friday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollum, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Abisola Adegoke, described the policy as a major milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare regulation.
She said the regulations were developed through collaboration with key stakeholders, including healthcare providers, technology experts and legal professionals, to ensure a balance between accessibility, accountability and patient safety.
According to her, the shift towards digital healthcare services has made it necessary to establish a modern regulatory framework that protects Nigerians from the risks associated with unregulated online drug sales.
The new rules are expected to improve medicine traceability, strengthen prescription control and expand safe access to pharmaceutical products across both urban and underserved communities.
Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market, estimated at over $10 billion, has continued to grow due to population expansion, urbanisation and rising healthcare demand. However, weak regulatory systems and fragmented supply chains have enabled the circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines.
Health experts estimate that between 10 and 15 per cent of medicines in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, are either fake or substandard.
Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ibrahim Ahmed, said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed major gaps in the regulation of online pharmaceutical services, as more Nigerians turned to digital platforms to access medicines.
He explained that the new regulations provide a comprehensive legal and technical framework for licensing, registration and monitoring of e-pharmacy operators in the country.
Ahmed added that the policy introduces a National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, which will be used to certify and verify licensed online pharmacies, ensuring that only qualified professionals operate within the space.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s healthcare system and create a more organised pharmaceutical market.
He noted that the new rules would enhance transparency, improve access to medicines and reduce the risks associated with unregulated drug distribution.
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Pate stressed that patient safety, data protection and accountability are central to the framework, warning that all digital pharmacy operators must comply with the new regulations or face sanctions.
He added that the government is committed to supporting compliant operators while enforcing strict penalties against violators.
The minister also highlighted the role of digital tools in improving healthcare delivery, noting that the new system would help monitor drug use, support treatment adherence and generate critical health data.
He further assured investors and development partners that Nigeria is ready to support innovation and investment in the digital health sector.
With the introduction of the Electronic Pharmacy Regulations 2026, the Federal Government aims to build a safer, more transparent and fully regulated digital pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.