Table 1_Telepharmacy in Nigeria: a narrative review.docx

Telepharmacy is being employed to deliver effective pharmaceutical services remotely, especially to rural and hard-to-reach areas. Countries have been making use of this approach effectively. The review explored the use of telepharmacy in Nigeria, the country’s readiness, and strategies for the enhancement of telepharmacy in the country. Studies conducted on telepharmacy use in Nigeria were searched on six databases, including CINAHL Plus, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The keywords used for the search are “Nigeria” and “Telepharmacy.” The screening was done using Covidence. Ten studies were included at the end of the screening. The findings from the study show that telepharmacy use in Nigeria is in its infancy and emerging. Only Lagos State, among the States included in the review, shows comparatively greater preparedness for large-scale telepharmacy implementation, though evidence remains limited. Telepharmacy services were reported to be useful. However, various challenges have been a deterrent. The most notable of these challenges is unreliable internet connectivity and unstable power supply. It is suggested that government, professional organizations, and institutions address these challenges through systemic strategies such as improving internet infrastructure and ensuring a stable power supply. These actions can make Nigeria ready for telepharmacy and deliver effective pharmaceutical services to all locations.