Lagos, FMOH, and SFH Unveil Breakthrough ePharma4FP Model

The Society for Family Health (SFH), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, recently held a dissemination meeting to unveil the groundbreaking outcomes of the three-year ePharma4FP Project. This pioneering intervention, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, convened policymakers, regulators, pharmacists, and digital innovators in Lagos to showcase how digital pharmacy models are transforming access to family planning (FP) services in Nigeria. The project focused on leveraging digital tools combined with community pharmacy networks to expand contraceptive access, enhance confidentiality, and reduce stigma for thousands of women, particularly those in underserved communities.

The event, themed “Exploring the Potential of Digital Pharmacy for Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Insights and Recommendations,” demonstrated that innovation meets purpose when utilizing a hybrid digital platform. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, highlighted that the model effectively addressed key barriers to FP access, such as long waiting times, stock-outs, limited privacy, and geographic obstacles. She emphasized that the initiative generated one of the strongest bodies of evidence for digital FP delivery in the country, citing significant public health impact, including the prevention of over 3,300 unintended pregnancies and the averting of more than 7,400 Disability-Adjusted Life Years.

​Beyond direct service delivery, Dr. Ogunyemi highlighted crucial system-strengthening milestones achieved through the project’s success in Lagos. These include the newly approved National ePharmacy Policy and the near completion of the Lagos State Digital Family Planning Health Management Information System (HMIS). She described these achievements as decisive steps toward creating a more data-driven, technology-enabled, and client-centered health ecosystem. This reinforcement of digital infrastructure solidifies Lagos’s determination to lead in health innovation and set new national benchmarks for technology-enabled, safe, confidential, and equitable FP access.

​The Deputy Managing Director of SFH, Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, affirmed that the dissemination marked the successful conclusion of an innovative journey, proving that digital technology, when paired with community pharmacies, can meaningfully expand access to quality reproductive health services. She stressed that the project successfully demonstrated how technology could enable seamless client autonomy, expand access points, and strengthen linkages within the overall health system. The robust evidence generated by the ePharma4FP Project now serves as a replicable model and a foundation for scale-up across other states in Nigeria, reinforcing the urgent need to integrate digital health solutions for achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Affirming the success of the model, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folashade Oludara (represented by Dr. Oluwatosin Onasanya), noted that the initiative significantly reduced distance and stigma barriers by expanding access through digital pharmacies. Importantly, the piloting of platforms like USSD and IVR ensured meaningful inclusion for women who do not own smartphones or have limited internet access. The collective sentiment from the stakeholders' meeting underscored that this successful collaboration sets a new, technology-driven national path for family planning services.