Under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 and the Electronic Pharmacy Regulations, an Electronic Pharmacy Aggregator (EPA) is a digital platform or app that connects customers to registered pharmacies, medicine vendors, or healthcare providers to order medicines.
To help you prepare before speaking with the authorities, here is a simple breakdown of all the key rules and requirements.

1. Who is the “Boss”? (The PCN)

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) is the main body in charge of controlling all drug businesses, medicine shops, and online medicine platforms in Nigeria.
  • Rule: You cannot run an aggregator platform (website or app) without first applying, getting inspected, and receiving an official licence from the PCN.

2. The 5 Super Rules You Must Know

👔 Rule A: You Must Have a “Superintendent Pharmacist”

Think of a Superintendent Pharmacist as the head doctor or lead teacher of your platform.
  • What you need to know: You cannot run your aggregator software alone as just a tech founder or business person.
  • The Rule: You must hire or appoint a qualified, fully licensed Superintendent Pharmacist who will oversee your operations and ensure that everything done on your app follows safety laws.

🏪 Rule B: You Can Only Connect Registered Shops

Your app acts as a bridge.
  • The Rule: You are only allowed to list or partner with registered pharmacies and licensed medicine vendors. If you partner with an illegal, unregistered shop or an unlicensed seller, your platform will be shut down, and you will face heavy fines.

📜 Rule C: Prescriptions Are Strictly Required for Heavy Medicines

You cannot let people buy any drug they want like buying clothes online.
  • The Rule: “Ethical drugs” or strong prescription medicines must never be sold without a valid prescription from a doctor or dentist. Your app must have a system to check, verify, and upload a real doctor’s prescription before an order for prescription medicine goes through.

🚚 Rule D: Safe Packaging and Delivery

When a customer orders medicine through your aggregator platform, the delivery must follow safety standards:
  • Medicines must be kept at the right temperature (e.g., some drugs spoil if they get too hot).
  • Packages must be sealed with tamper-evident packaging so no one can mess with the drugs on the road.

🔒 Rule E: Protect Customer Data

Your app will handle sensitive health details.
  • The Rule: You must protect customer information, medical histories, and phone numbers. Leaking or selling customer health information is illegal.

3. Big Rules on Fines and Punishment (What Happens If You Break Rules)

The PCN Act sets strict penalties to protect public safety:
  • Operating without Registration: If you run an unlicensed pharmacy/aggregator business, you face a fine of at least ₦2,500,000, up to 2 years in prison, or both.
  • False Information: Giving false documents or fake pharmacist details carries a minimum fine of ₦1,000,000 for individuals or ₦5,000,000 for companies.
  • Blocking Inspectors: If PCN inspection officers visit to inspect your business or tech operations and you block them, the fine is ₦2,000,000 or 2 years imprisonment.

4. Checklist: What to Have Ready Before You Call PCN

  1. Company Registration (CAC): Your registered business details.
  2. Superintendent Pharmacist: A licensed pharmacist ready to be attached to your corporate account.
  3. App / Platform Demo: A clear flow showing how prescriptions are uploaded/verified and how orders are routed only to licensed pharmacies.
  4. Partner List: A list of licensed community pharmacies you intend to aggregate.
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