FG moves to regulate online pharmacy services
The federal government, alongside other stakeholders in the health sector, on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan to further transform the health sector.
Speaking during the event, health minister Ali Pate said the policy would regulate the production and sale of pharmaceuticals and allow Nigerians access to quality-assured medicines.
Mr Pate said it was geared towards modernising healthcare delivery and allowing Nigerians access to affordable medicine, no matter where they live.
According to the minister, though the rise of digital platforms has transformed nearly every sector of the nation’s economy, the pharmaceutical space has remained largely fragmented with limited oversight of online medicine sales.
He said that the free-hand access in the pharmaceutical sector had created dangerous gaps, where substandard and falsified medicines, unlicensed vendors, and misinformation thrived.
Mr Pate said that the platform would promote greater accountability for all actors in the pharmaceutical value chain, adding that the policy is a product of extensive collaboration.
The registrar/CEO of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed, said the policy would provide strategic direction for regulation, especially for the PCN, being the implementing agency.
“We have developed the regulation to guide this particular endeavour. The regulation was approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and endorsed by the Minister of Justice,” he said.
Munir Elelu, the director and team lead for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation, lauded the project, describing it as good innovation for Nigeria.
He said that the project would be cut across for primary healthcare centre services and family planning services at communities and underserved entities in the country.
David Adeyemi, CEO/founder of Pharmachain Technologies, who was part of the team that drafted the policy, commended the team for producing it.
He identified the lack of implementation as a major setback to most policies in Nigeria, but assured that the NEPP would not be different.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Ibadan
Kidnapped Oyo schoolchildren, teachers regain freedom after about two months in captivity
The release of the victims followed a series of sustained protests over the prolonged captivity of the victims.
Agriculture
Plateau govt. procures 500 truckloads of fertiliser for sale at subsidised rate
The governor directed that fertiliser be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of N20,000 per bag.
Economy
Court clears FCCPC to investigate air ticket pricing complaints
Mr Bello said investigating consumer complaints was fundamentally different from regulating prices.
States
National Cash Transfer: 1,908 vulnerable residents receive debit cards in Edo
The initiative is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the World Bank, and the National Cash Transfer Office.
Africa
Rwanda spent $32 million on fuel subsidies in four months: Minister
He said the subsidies were to shield consumers and businesses from surging oil prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.
Heading 3
FG to integrate 80 million Nigerian students into NIMC database
He said the ministry had integrated the National Learners’ Identification Number (LIN) with the NIN through the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
