EFPIA with the support of technology provider GSI, have today joined together to launch a new initiative aimed at helping Ukrainian people displaced by war.

Ukrainians living in Poland will now be able to obtain electronic Product Information Leaflet (e-PIL) for prescription medicines dispensed in the country and in their own language.  The move – which is supported by a number of volunteering pharmaceutical companies - is aimed at mitigating the risk of misusing medicines due to language barriers, and will be free of charge.

The initiative will launch in September in Poland due to the high numbers of refugees living in the country.

As per the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) a unique Datamatrix code is already printed on each prescription medicines pack. This was originally introduced to prevent fake and potentially harmful medicines entering the supply chain.  Using a free, dedicated app, clinicians or patients can scan the code on the pack and access the e-PIL. These e-PILs are a faithful translation of the official PIL available in paper format for respective medicine. Access to the e-PIL in Ukrainian requires downloading and installing an App on a smartphone running on either Android or iOS.

App Store link to download the application. 

Play Store link to download the application. 

For more information on the initiative, visit this webpage.

Speaking about the initiative, Nathalie Moll, Director General, EFPIA, said: 

"Over 7 million displaced Ukrainians have entered in the EU, among them patients requiring ongoing medical treatment. Establishing an electronic product Information leaflet in Ukrainian is an initiative the pharmaceutical industry has initiated to meet the needs of these patients and help them access care in their own language."