The Federal Government has introduced the Electronic Pharmacy Regulations 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s expanding digital pharmaceutical space and curb the circulation of fake and substandard medicines.

The new framework, launched in Abuja on Friday, comes amid growing concerns over weak supply chain controls and the rapid rise of unregulated online medicine vendors.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Daju Kachollum, who was represented at the event by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Abisola Adegoke, described the initiative as a major reform in the country’s healthcare regulatory system.

According to her, the regulations were developed through consultations with stakeholders across technology, healthcare delivery and the legal sector.

“This framework is a product of collaborative engagement with relevant partners, including technology innovators, healthcare providers and legal experts,” she said.

Kachollum noted that the policy was designed to strike a balance between accessibility, safety and accountability in the evolving digital health ecosystem.

She added that the regulations would strengthen Nigeria’s broader digital health structure and support the development of a national electronic pharmacy system.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the reform is aimed at sanitising pharmaceutical distribution and improving transparency in the sector.

He said the absence of proper regulation had long allowed informal and poorly controlled medicine distribution channels to thrive.

“The haphazard market does not serve anyone. A well-organised market must have a functioning regulatory framework to reduce social harm,” Pate said.

He explained that the new framework prioritises patient safety, data protection and accountability, while leveraging digital tools to improve access to medicines and treatment adherence.

Pate warned that all operators in the online pharmaceutical space must comply with the new rules or face sanctions.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ibrahim Ahmed, said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in medicine distribution systems, accelerating the shift towards digital healthcare services.

He noted that while e-commerce has improved access to medicines, it has also created new risks that require stronger regulation.

“As the world pivots towards a digital direction, patients’ access to medicines has evolved. This framework ensures ethical standards are not compromised while protecting consumers,” he said.

Ahmed added that the regulations provide a legal and technical structure for the registration, licensing and monitoring of online pharmaceutical operations, in line with global best practices.

According to him, the government will also certify and maintain a database of approved electronic pharmacies to prevent abuse and ensure public safety.