The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH), is expanding access to family planning through online pharmacies to create a more inclusive, efficient, and equitable health system.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi announced this at the E-Pharmacy for Family Planning Project First Phase Dissemination on Tuesday in Lagos.
The event, titled “The Digital Shift: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Access and Delivery Through e-Pharmacies,” was organized by SFH and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
E-pharmacies—online platforms for purchasing medications—are central to the ePharma4FP project, which aims to improve access to quality family planning products, information, and counselling for women in Lagos.
Ogunyemi emphasized the importance of digital health: “By enabling digital access to these services, e-pharmacies are breaking down geographical, social and economic barriers… This initiative demonstrates what can be achieved through innovation, collaboration and data-driven decision-making.”
She highlighted that access to contraceptives is a fundamental right, essential for empowering women, strengthening families, and improving community health.
The project also provides valuable data on how scalable and sustainable e-pharmacy models can support Nigeria’s health sector. Findings are expected to guide policy formulation, regulatory frameworks, and future investments.
Ogunyemi commended the Gates Foundation for funding the project, noting their role in advancing a more responsive and resilient health system.
Dr. Segun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, stressed the need for stronger policies and regulations to ensure digital health services maintain high standards and prevent malpractice.
Representatives from various stakeholders underscored the project’s importance:
- Mr. Samuel Onoja (Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria) described it as a step toward inclusive healthcare delivery.
- Dr. Akin Akinbajo (UNFPA) noted the critical role of the private sector in promoting modern contraception.
- Mr. Kunle Daramola (Gates Foundation) said the project could drive down maternal mortality and improve health outcomes.
- Dr. Jennifer Anyanti (SFH) highlighted that 70% of Lagos residents first seek medical advice from pharmacists, making e-pharmacies a vital access point.
- Dr. Uchenna Okafor (Chief of Party, ePharma4FP) presented findings that the platform successfully integrated digital solutions and identified challenges such as prescription abuse, counterfeit drugs, data privacy, and the need for trust-building.
Okafor shared that Nigeria has more than 46 million women of reproductive age, with Lagos showing a fertility rate drop from 5.3 to 3.4 births per woman. Increasing contraceptive uptake via e-pharmacy could help drive this further down.
Recommendations to enhance the e-pharmacy ecosystem include:
- Closing regulatory gaps with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria
- Increased public awareness and education on e-pharmacy services
- Development of a National Electronic Pharmacy Platform
- Feedback mechanisms for service improvement
- In-school and ongoing training for e-pharmacy providers.
The ePharma4FP initiative is funded by the Gates Foundation and implemented by a consortium led by SFH, alongside Busara Centre for Behavioural Research, HealthPlus Pharmacy, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation (PSNF).
