1. Information We Collect
We collect information in several ways depending on how you interact with Molua's Pharmacy — whether in person, by phone, via our website, or through our management system.
a) Personal Identification Information
- Full name, date of birth, and gender
- Contact details: phone number, email address, and physical address
- National ID or passport number (where required for regulated medicines)
- Emergency contact information
b) Health & Medical Information
- Prescription details issued by licensed healthcare providers
- Medical history relevant to safe medication dispensing
- Known allergies, drug sensitivities, and current medications
- Chronic conditions disclosed for medication management (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
c) Transaction Information
- Purchase history and dispensing records
- Payment method and transaction amounts
- Invoices and receipts
d) Technical Information (Website/System)
- IP address, browser type, and device identifiers
- Pages visited and time spent on our digital platforms
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 8)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Dispensing medications safely: Verifying prescriptions, checking for drug interactions, and ensuring the right medication reaches the right patient.
- Patient care and follow-up: Providing counselling on medication usage, dosage instructions, and potential side effects.
- Customer service: Responding to enquiries, complaints, and requests for information.
- Transaction processing: Processing payments, generating receipts, and maintaining purchase records for warranty and return purposes.
- Regulatory compliance: Maintaining records required by the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon and applicable pharmaceutical regulations.
- Inventory management: Managing stock levels to ensure medication availability.
- Communication: Notifying you of prescription refill reminders, important health alerts, or changes to our services (with your consent where required).
- Improving our services: Analysing service trends to improve our offerings, staff training, and pharmacy operations.
4. Prescription & Health Data
Your health and prescription information is treated as sensitive personal data and is afforded the highest level of protection. Specifically:
- All prescription records are kept confidential and are accessible only to authorised pharmacy staff directly involved in your care.
- Prescription details will not be discussed with third parties, including family members, without your explicit consent (except in emergencies or where the patient is a minor or legally incapacitated).
- Paper prescriptions are stored securely and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations.
- Digital prescription and dispensing records are stored in encrypted, access-controlled systems.
- We comply with the pharmaceutical laws of Cameroon, including record-keeping requirements for controlled substances as specified by Decree No. 92/041 of 7th March 1992 and related regulations.
5. Data Security
We implement a range of technical, physical, and organisational measures to protect your personal information:
- Encryption: Sensitive data is encrypted both in transit (TLS) and at rest.
- Access controls: Only authorised staff with a legitimate need can access patient records. Access is role-based and audited.
- Physical security: Physical records are stored in locked cabinets accessible only to authorised personnel.
- Audit logs: All access to sensitive records is logged and regularly reviewed.
- Staff training: All staff receive training on data privacy and confidentiality obligations.
- Incident response: We have procedures in place to detect, report, and respond to data breaches in a timely manner.
While we take all reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the relevant authorities without undue delay.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal and health information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law:
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Prescription records | Minimum 5 years (as required by Cameroonian pharmaceutical regulations) |
| Patient health records | Minimum 10 years or until patient requests deletion (whichever is longer, subject to legal requirements) |
| Transaction / financial records | 10 years (for tax and audit compliance) |
| General contact information | 3 years from last interaction, unless ongoing relationship exists |
| CCTV footage (if applicable) | 30 days, unless required for an active investigation |
After the applicable retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised.
7. Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right of access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Right to erasure: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention obligations (e.g., prescription records we are required to keep).
- Right to restrict processing: You may ask us to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
- Right to object: You may object to our use of your information for direct marketing purposes at any time.
- Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 11. We will respond to all requests within 30 days. Please note that some rights may be limited where we have an overriding legal obligation to retain the information (such as prescription records).
9. Children's Privacy
We provide pharmaceutical services to patients of all ages, including children. When dispensing medications to or collecting information about minors, we require a parent or legal guardian to provide consent and accompanying documentation. Health and prescription information relating to minors is held to the same security standards as adult records. Parents and guardians may exercise rights on behalf of their children under the age of 18 by contacting us directly.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through a prominent notice on our premises or website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our services after any changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal data, please contact us:
We will acknowledge your request within 5 business days and resolve it within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant Cameroonian regulatory authority.