Lagos: The Lagos State Government says the ePharma4FP project has accelerated universal health coverage, enhanced service quality, and filled gaps that previously hindered family planning services in the state’s underserved communities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, affirmed that the project had tackled barriers to family planning services, including stockouts, long wait times, stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited access. Ogunyemi revealed this during the E-Pharmacy for Family Planning Project Final Dissemination event themed, ‘Exploring the Potential of Digital Pharmacy for Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Insights and Recommendations’.
The Gates Foundation-supported ePharma4FP Project is delivered by a Society for Family Health (SFH)-led consortium with Busara, HealthPlus Pharmacy, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation. The project, done in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, designed, tested, and optimized hybrid e-Pharmacy models in Lagos.
NAN reports that the ePharma4FP project, conducted between 2023 and 2025, sought to improve access to high-quality family planning products, information, and counselling services for women in Lagos. Ogunyemi described the initiative as a testament to the possibilities that can be achieved through digital innovation, expanding convenience, enhancing client autonomy, and strengthening linkages across the health system.
Ogunyemi explained that the initiative’s achievements underscored Lagos State’s commitment to safe, confidential, and equitable family planning access. The project has propelled the near completion of the Lagos State Digital Family Planning policy, representing a decisive step towards a more data-driven, technology-enabled, and client-centered health ecosystem.
Dr Folasade Oludara, Acting Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, noted that ePharma4FP has demonstrated how technology can make family planning more inclusive, convenient, and accessible to women. Oludara reiterated the state’s commitment to leading transformational changes and leveraging technology to improve the lives of women and families.
Dr Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director, Society for Family Health (SFH), stated that the project was a strategic proof-of-concept for how digital pharmacy models can unlock system efficiencies, bridge access gaps, and modernize the delivery of essential reproductive health services. Insights from the project would inform national digital health planning and support private sector integration.
Dr Uchenna Okafor, Chief of Party, E-Pharma4FP, SFH, highlighted that the project culminated in the finalization of the Nigeria National Prescription and Dispensing Policy (NNPDP), establishing a robust enabling environment for advancing digital pharmacy operations across Nigeria. He recommended coordinated action from government, regulators, private-sector innovators, development partners, and community actors to unlock the full potential of e-Pharmacy.