The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has officially begun licensing individuals and platforms selling pharmaceuticals via social media and other online channels.
Announced at a gathering in Abuja, PCN’s Registrar and CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, noted that the proliferation of online drug vendors accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and required stronger oversight.
He confirmed that the PCN Establishment Act 2022 was designed to address these evolving practices in electronic pharmacy operations
To enforce these regulations effectively, PCN has engaged Interpol, leveraging its global reach across 194 countries.
This partnership has already resulted in the takedown of at least one non-compliant online platform.
PCN emphasized the importance of inspecting both the visible front-end and the invisible back-end operations.
They have insisted that only sites supervised by licensed pharmacists can receive approval.
Echoing PCN’s efforts, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye underscored that her agency began licensing online drug vendors about a year and a half ago.
She highlighted a notable case where a falsified anti-cancer drug was traced and removed through intelligence-driven action.
NAFDAC plans to train staff in September on new tracking technologies for internet-based drug distribution
Regulation of online pharmacies in Nigeria has long been a concern.
As early as 2021, PCN warned that operating an online pharmacy without registration would be criminal.
Enforcement efforts have included closing illegal medicine outlets, ramping up licensing, and bolstering inspection regimes.
