Digital-first for patient information
The importance of ePILs to support HCPs in their patient care.
The premise of the industry adopting ePILs as standard means using a digital-first approach that caters to the habits of patients now immersed in a digital world while ensuring that those on the fringes are not left behind.
Without using an innovative approach for this information, firstly there is the risk to patient safety – in comparison with paper form, digital provides Pharma with the opportunity to distribute new information to HCPs and patients much faster. When done effectively, an update to an online regulated document can be cascaded instantaneously throughout the healthcare ecosystem, helping HCPs to make more informed treatment decisions and reducing risk to patient safety.
Secondly, there is the environmental impact of paper leaflets by default, with an estimated 8,000 metric tonnes printed every year in the UK alone, and globally paper leaflet production estimated to generate around 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Notably, 31% of patients globally who answered the survey said they didn’t read the paper leaflet, either because it was difficult to read (13%), because they prefer their information online (11%) or they simply never read the paper leaflet (7%).
