The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has welcomed pharmaceutical distribution company DrugStoc into its Health Guardians network as part of efforts to improve access to quality and affordable medicines across Nigeria.

The partnership will focus on pharmaceutical access, supply chain efficiency, digital health, healthcare financing and pharmacy-led care.

In a statement on Monday, the federation said the partnership would also support policy discussions aimed at strengthening private sector participation in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The HFN Health Guardians Initiative brings together organisations working to improve healthcare delivery through advocacy, policy development, stakeholder engagement and institutional support.

DrugStoc joins the network with a focus on addressing gaps in the sourcing, distribution and management of medicines.

The technology-enabled pharmaceutical company connects manufacturers and importers with hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and other healthcare providers.
It also provides digital tools designed to help pharmacies manage procurement, inventory and daily operations.

According to the company, its platforms currently serve more than 4,000 healthcare providers. Its services include the DrugStoc e-commerce platform, Pillometer, DrugStoc Learning and KAMPÉ Care.

Speaking on the partnership, HFN President, Njide Ndili, said access to quality healthcare could not be separated from access to genuine medicines.

“DrugStoc brings an important perspective to the Health Guardians network because access to quality healthcare is inseparable from access to quality medicines,” Ndili said.

“Their work at the intersection of pharmaceutical supply chains, technology, pharmacy operations and healthcare access speaks directly to some of the structural challenges facing our health system.

“We are pleased to welcome DrugStoc as a Health Guardian and look forward to working together to strengthen private-sector participation in healthcare reform and advance practical solutions that can improve access and outcomes.”

The partnership comes as Nigeria continues to face challenges linked to fragmented medicine distribution, limited visibility across the pharmaceutical supply chain and the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products.

DrugStoc said its distribution model connects healthcare providers to verified pharmaceutical products while using technology and data to improve the movement of medicines.

Beyond medicine distribution, the company operates Pillometer, a pharmacy management system that combines software, hardware and data-driven tools.

The platform supports inventory management, pharmacy operations and business decision-making.

DrugStoc Learning provides professional education for healthcare workers, while KAMPÉ Care uses pharmacies to expand access to primary healthcare and micro-health insurance.

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of DrugStoc, Dr Chibuzo Opara, said the company would continue to use technology and partnerships to improve medicine access.

“At DrugStoc, we believe that access to quality, authentic and affordable medicines is fundamental to improving healthcare outcomes in Nigeria,” Opara said.

“Our commitment is to continue leveraging technology, data and strong partnerships to strengthen the healthcare supply chain, support healthcare providers and ensure that more patients can reliably access the medicines and care they need.”

The company has also expanded its activities within Africa’s health innovation space.

In 2025, it organised the AHEAD Africa HealthTech Hackathon in partnership with The Nest Innovation Technology Park and Co-creation Hub.

The programme brought together developers, healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs to develop solutions addressing healthcare access, affordability and interoperability.

DrugStoc said it had also pursued international partnerships aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains and improving healthcare access across Africa.

HFN said the new partnership reflected the range of expertise required to address Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.

The federation added that stronger collaboration between healthcare businesses, policymakers and other stakeholders could help turn private sector expertise into practical healthcare reforms.