September 2023

Intergraf Newsflash

Intergraf organised a meeting with MEP Pernille Weiss, European Parliament’s Rapporteur on the review of the pharmaceutical legislation on 25 August 2023. The meeting was hosted by STIBO Complete in the MEP’s home country Denmark. Participants also included Søren Henriksen and Frank Sørensen (Stibo Complete), Carsten Bøg (Grakom), Laetitia Reynaud (Intergraf) and Mike Turner (MLPS). The group had a very constructive discussion on the Commission’s proposal, which grants the possibility for Member States to remove paper leaflets from the medicines packages and replace them with a QR code while maintaining patients’ right to a printed copy. Intergraf and MLPS (Medical Leaflets=Patients’ Safety) explained that this is a threat to patients’ safety, in particular vulnerable ones, but also that this approach cannot work in practice. Printing plant Stibo Complete demonstrated that medical leaflets are produced by trained workers under very strict technical and safety specifications, showing that printing on demand is not an option in the area of medical leaflets. The proposal would suggest pharmacists could handle the supply of a printed copy upon demand. They could not secure the printing of leaflets that meet the same technical specifications and appropriate level of security required for the production and handling of medical leaflets. Package leaflets provide vital information to patients and carers. Intergraf is of the opinion that all patients have access to accurate and comprehensive information about their medication. The removal of paper leaflets would penalise in particular most vulnerable patients, including the elderly, those lacking digital skills and those who are less digital savvy. Intergraf and MLPS will provide MEP Weiss with concrete proposals for changes to the Commission’s proposal. More information is available from Laetitia Reynaud.