Digital innovation is gradually changing how people engage with healthcare systems. As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, patients are also experiencing new ways to access and use medicinal product information. From electronic health records to ePrescriptions.
Electronic Product Information (ePI) offers many benefits for patients — from easier access to up-to-date medicine information and improved readability, to a clearer, more user-friendly structure that helps strengthen health literacy and supports better medication adherence. In this article, we have summarized the 5 key benefits of ePI for patients.
Electronic Product Information (ePI) — the digital, structured version of the traditional package leaflet or patient information leaflet. For patients, ePI offers more than just a new format. It has the potential to make medicine information more accessible, easy to search, and more useful in everyday life.
Traditionally, the paper package leaflet has been the standard source of product information inside medicinal packs. While familiar, it is not always the most practical solution. The leaflet is often folded in a way that makes it difficult to handle, the font may be too small for some readers, and finding a specific piece of information can be time-consuming. In contrast, ePI is designed to support better access to the information needed when needed. This makes it a promising element of a more patient-centered digital healthcare environment.
Up-to-Date Information when Patients Need It
One of the most important benefits of ePI is that it can provide current, approved medicine information. In the paper-based world, updates can take time to reach patients, and revised information may not always be immediately visible in the physical package leaflet. With ePI, however, the current authorised version can be made available quickly and directly.
This is especially relevant in situations where safety information changes, for example due to new findings, updated usage instructions, or revised warnings. Because ePI is digital, it can help ensure that patients have access to the most recent, officially approved content without delay. This contributes directly to safer medicine use, as patients are less likely to rely on outdated information.
The value of up-to-date information becomes even clearer in cases of supply shortages or imported products. If a medicine package from another country is temporarily brought into the market, digital information can help patients receive the correct package leaflet in the local language quickly, for example via scan function or linked product data. In this way, ePI supports continuity of care even under challenging supply conditions.
Beyond the Paper Leaflet: always within Reach
Another major advantage of ePI is its availability. Patients do not need to keep track of a folded leaflet that may be lost, damaged, or left behind at home. Instead, digital medicine information can be accessed whenever it is needed, whether at home, at work, or on the go.
This kind of “always at hand” access can be particularly helpful in everyday situations. A patient may want to check how a medicine should be taken, confirm whether a certain side effect is known, or review instructions while the paper package leaflet is not to hand. With ePI, this information is available at any time and can also be stored for later use in some applications.
Availability is not only important for patients themselves. Family members, caregivers, and other supporting persons can also access the information, even if they are not in the same place as the patient. This can be especially valuable for older patients, people with complex medication regimens, or anyone who needs support in managing treatment correctly. ePI therefore extends access beyond the patient alone and can help create a more informed care environment.
A User-Friendly Experience
ePI also offers more opportunities for user-friendly interfaces than the paper package leaflet. Because the information is digital, it can be adapted to different user needs. Font size can be adjusted, and the content can be displayed in formats that are easier to read and navigate. This is an important step toward better accessibility.
For many patients, especially older people or those with impaired vision, small print is a real barrier when reading traditional package leaflets. Digital formats can reduce this problem significantly. Screen-reader compatibility, zoom functions, and clear online layouts can make a real difference for people who might otherwise struggle to read the information.
In addition, ePI can be structured in a way that is more intuitive for users. Instead of a long-unbroken text, the content can be organized into clearly separated sections. Patients can open only the chapter they need, which reduces frustration and helps them find relevant information faster. This is particularly helpful when a patient wants to look up one specific topic, such as use in pregnancy, dosage for children, or possible side effects.
The user-friendliness of ePI is also strengthened by different search options. Patients can search by product name, use a barcode or Data Matrix scan. These features lower the effort needed to retrieve the right package leaflet and make the experience much more practical than handling a paper version.
Better Clarity through Structured Content
A further key benefit of ePI is its structured format. Unlike a PDF that simply mirrors printed text, ePI is built from structured data. This allows the information to be presented in a clearer and easy to navigate way. Patients do not have to scroll through pages of text to locate a single instruction or warning. Instead, they can move directly to the relevant section.
This structure improves readability, but it also supports comprehension. A well-organized digital package leaflet helps patients understand where to find dosage instructions, precautions, or details about side effects. When information is easy to locate, it is also easier to use correctly. That matters because medicine information is not only meant to be read — it is meant to guide safe and correct treatment behavior.
Structured ePI can also provide additional content that adds value to patients. For example, approved educational material, device images, or display of changes at chapter-level can be linked directly to the package leaflet. Additional information helps patients with their daily use of medicinal products. Patients can benefit from a more connected information experience rather than having to search across multiple sources.
Supporting Safer Medicine Use
All of these advantages ultimately serve a single goal: safer and more confident use of medicines. Patients benefit when information is current, easy to find, easy to read, and available at the right moment. ePI strengthens all of these dimensions at once.
This is particularly important because medicine use is often not limited to a single moment when the package is first opened. Questions may arise later: How should the product be stored? Can it be taken during pregnancy? What should I do if I miss a dose? Having a digital package leaflet that is always accessible makes it easier for patients to check important details when they need them.
ePI can also support adherence, because patients are more likely to follow instructions when those instructions are simple to retrieve. In that sense, digital product information is not just a technical innovation. It is a practical improvement that can help patients manage well-informed treatment and take their medication as prescribed.
Looking Ahead
The move toward ePI is part of a broader shift toward a more digital healthcare system. In the future, the potential of ePI may go even further, for example by linking product information more closely with patient-specific data or by enabling more personalized guidance. For now, the immediate value is already clear: ePI can make medicine information more accessible, more readable, and more reliable for patients.
The transition from paper to digital will need to be handled carefully so that all patient groups remain included. Digital literacy, accessibility, and trust in the information source will all play an important role. But if implemented well, ePI can become a meaningful tool for improving patient communication and supporting safer medication use.
In short, ePI has the potential to transform the way patients access medicine information. It offers up-to-date content, constant availability, a more user-friendly interface, and a clearer structure. For patients, that means less frustration, better orientation, and more confidence in using their medicines correctly.
If you would like to learn more about ePI, read our latest blog post about the Introduction of ePI – The Future of Medicines Information.
For more information, visit the Rote Liste website or contact Rote Liste.
FAQ
1. What are the benefits of ePI for patients?
ePI helps patients access and understand medicine information more easily. Patients are able to find the most relevant content faster. It also supports safer medicine usage and more convenient access to regulator-authorised information.
2. How does ePI improve access to medicine information?
ePI makes medicine information available digitally, so patients have information on demand, day or night. They can search for it online, scan a code on the package, or open it in an app.
3. Why is electronic Product Information easier to read than paper leaflets?
Unlike traditional paper leaflets, ePI can be displayed in a clear, structured format with adjustable font sizes and better navigation. This makes it especially helpful for patients who struggle with small print.
4. Can patients access ePI whenever they need it?
Yes, that is one of its key advantages. ePI can be retrieved whenever needed. Patients can, for example, easily access information about their medicines via a website or an app, whether they are at home or on the go.
5. How does ePI support patient safety and better medicine use?
By providing up-to-date and well-structured information, as well as additional information such as display of changes, ePI supports patient safety. It can also make it easier to find warnings, dosage instructions, and other important details quickly.