As the world increasingly moves towards digitization, electronic Product Information (ePI) is becoming a vital aspect of pharmaceutical innovation. The map of ePI activity in October 2024 reveals varied levels of adoption and scaling across different regions. Let’s dive into the global status of ePI implementation, grouping countries based on their progress.
1. Scaling Up ePI Adoption
Several countries and regions have advanced to the stage of scaling up ePI efforts, signifying mature implementations:
- North America: Canada is scaling up its ePI systems, indicating a solid commitment to integrating digital tools in healthcare.
- Europe:
- The Baltics, Spain, and Portugal have progressed significantly, with Portugal notably scaling up.
- Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, and Spain are actively involved in EMA (European Medicines Agency) pilots.
- Asia-Pacific: Countries leading in scaling include:
- South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
- Singapore is particularly notable, as it is scaling up and working towards removing paper entirely for all products.
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Middle East and Africa: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, and Botswana have advanced to scaling up ePI.
2. Initiating ePI Pilots
Other regions are taking the initial steps by piloting ePI systems:
- Europe:
- BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), France, and Switzerland are initiating pilots.
- Poland, Germany, and Austria have ePI on their radar.
- Turkey has also begun pilot programs.
- Middle East: Israel and Algeria are in the pilot stage.
- Latin America:
- Mexico has initiated ePI pilots.
- Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are beginning similar initiatives.
- Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay are also in the early stages of implementation.
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Asia: China is running an ePI pilot, while Japan is already operational with a paperless system.
3. Legislative and Advocacy Efforts
In some regions, advocacy and legislative changes are paving the way for ePI adoption:
- United States: Active lobbying efforts are underway to encourage Congress to move towards ePI systems.
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European Union: Revised legislation includes clear milestones for de-labeling, emphasizing a structured approach to ePI adoption.
4. Fully Digital ePI Systems: Removing Paper Leaflets
A select group of countries is leading the charge in fully digital ePI implementation by removing paper leaflets and adopting sustainable, paperless systems:
- Asia-Pacific and Oceania:
- Singapore is scaling up its ePI systems and actively removing paper leaflets across all products.
- Japan has fully implemented an ePI system that operates entirely paperless, setting a benchmark for the region.
- Australia and New Zealand have implemented ePI systems for all products, excluding parenterals, significantly reducing reliance on traditional paper-based systems. These countries are pioneering the shift towards fully digital systems, emphasizing efficiency, sustainability, and access to real-time updates for product information.
Global Implications of ePI Activity
The shift towards ePI systems reflects a broader trend of digital transformation in healthcare. Scaling up ePI promises greater efficiency, sustainability, and improved access to updated product information. However, the map also highlights the disparities in adoption, with some regions progressing rapidly while others remain in the early phases. This global snapshot serves as a call to action for continued collaboration, innovation, and investment to ensure equitable access to ePI across all regions.