As of January 1, 2027, except for products within the scope of exemption, there will be no paper package insert inside the medicine boxes.
Citizens will be able to access information such as the method of use, dosage and side effects of the drug electronically by scanning the QR code on the outer packaging with their mobile phones. Paper package leaflet application will continue physically for some special drugs such as vaccines and radiopharmaceutical (hospital group) products.
"WHAT WILL BE DONE IF QR CODE DOES NOT WORK?"
Chairman of All Pharmacist Employers' Union (TEİS), Pharmacist. Nurten Saydan pointed out that the complete removal of the prospectus system could create new grievances, especially for the elderly and patients with limited digital access. Saydan said, "Access to drug information should not be the privilege of those who have a smartphone and the internet. Developments in the field of health ensure success when all segments of the society can benefit from these opportunities equally. Therefore, instead of completely abolishing the printed instructions for use, a model in which digital and printed options are offered together and patients can make choices according to their needs should be adopted. If there is no printed package insert in the medicine box and the electronic instructions for use cannot be accessed through the QR code, citizens will have to contact the company that holds the license for the drug. How can citizens access companies that even pharmacists can hardly reach most of the time? "will reach," he said.
"WHY WAS THE PROSPECTUS NOT PUBLISHED?"
Stating that the removal of printed leaflets will affect the consultancy processes in pharmacies as well as patients' access to drug information, Saydan said, "When patients do not have a leaflet in the medicine box, they approach the pharmacists and ask, 'Why wasn't there a leaflet in the medicine?' encounters such questions. Citizens even ask, 'There is no paper inside, could the medicine be a fake medicine?' Our pharmaceutical companies immediately put this innovation into practice. And they left us face to face with the patient," he said, further adding in his statement:
"SERIOUS PROBLEMS MAY ARRIVE"
"As TEİS, we find the opportunities provided by digitalization in healthcare services valuable, but we think that the complete removal of printed leaflets may lead to new problems in terms of public health and patient safety. For the correct, safe and conscious use of drugs, it is of great importance that patients can easily access information such as the use of the drug, its side effects, and storage conditions. If access to this information is made dependent only on conditions such as smartphones, internet connection and digital literacy, serious problems may arise for some segments of the society.
Especially older citizens, patients who have difficulty using technologies, and low-income citizens who do not have a smartphone or regular internet access may be negatively affected by this change. People living in rural areas with inadequate internet infrastructure and citizens who lose access to electricity and communication infrastructure during earthquakes, floods and similar disasters may also have difficulty accessing drug information. Having a printed resource that can be consulted without the need for any technological tools is important for patients to be able to make safe decisions about their own health.
"THERE SHOULD BE BOTH PROSPECTUS AND QR SERVICE"
We call on TITCK to re-evaluate the regulation regarding the digital prospectus application within the framework of public health and equal access principles. As TEIS, we argue that instead of completely abolishing printed prospectuses, a system in which both methods can be used together should be maintained. Thus, while patients who have access to technology can benefit from digital information, citizens who do not have this opportunity can continue to access drug information directly.
