• The University of Abomey-Calavi has opened a simulation center to enhance practical pharmacy training.

• The “Pharm Expérience” facility combines a mock pharmacy with digital learning tools and real-time monitoring systems.

• The initiative supports future deployment of a national “e-pharmacy” solution and reflects a broader shift toward digital healthcare in Africa.

The pharmacy department of the University of Abomey-Calavi launched a simulation center on April 27 to strengthen hands-on training for pharmaceutical science students. The facility, named “Pharm Expérience,” aims to align academic learning with real-world conditions in pharmacies and hospital settings.

The center operates through a dual technological architecture. It includes a dispensing room that replicates a modern pharmacy environment and a classroom equipped with interactive digital tools.

A system of cameras and videoconferencing enables instructors and students to monitor practical scenarios and role-playing exercises in real time. This setup provides deeper immersion and reinforces experiential learning.

Preparing for “e-pharmacy” deployment

University authorities stated that the initiative seeks to raise training standards by bridging theory and professional practice. Habib Ganfon, Vice-Dean of the pharmacy faculty, emphasized that the project aims to place students at the center of ongoing technological transformation in the sector.

The center will also serve as a platform to prepare future pharmacists for the national “e-pharmacy” solution currently under development. The objective is to equip students with digital pharmaceutical management tools before their large-scale deployment.

Continental shift toward digital pharmacy

Beyond Benin, African countries are accelerating the adoption of digital solutions in the pharmaceutical sector. Governments and regulators are exploring online pharmacy models and digital drug distribution systems amid persistent supply chain and access challenges.

According to the report “Online Pharmacy in Africa: Regulatory Landscape and Opportunities for Action,” published in 2023 by Salient Advisory, countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa have already introduced regulatory frameworks or guidelines for online pharmacies. Ghana has gone further by implementing a state-led national e-pharmacy system.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum