In 2019, we presented the Medico application, which allows you to access the instructions and other information on medications by simply scanning their barcode. The idea remains little widespread, despite the reliability of the data used, taken from the official public database.
This logic is now being applied on a national scale, since the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) launches a two-year pilot phase to test an enriched digital version of the instructions.
An enriched leaflet accessible from the packaging
On November 19, 2025, the ANSM formalized the launch of this pilot phase, which had already been active for several weeks. It concerns both community pharmacies and certain hospitals, with different methods depending on the distribution locations.
In pharmacies, the boxes concerned display a QR code printed on the packaging. By scanning it with your iPhone camera, you access an online leaflet hosted on the public medicines database. The paper version always remains inside the box.
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As part of the pilot phase launched in November 2025, certain boxes are delivered without printed instructions to hospitals. The test concerns a defined list of medications and makes it possible to assess the benefit of entirely digital operation in a context where patients do not have access to the boxes, and where medical staff already use dematerialized media to consult the instructions.
The digital version offers additional content depending on the medication. This includes good use videos, security alerts, risk reduction measuresexplanatory files or even a complete summary of the product characteristics. All elements are updated each month by the ANSM, which guarantees access to the most recent information.
National monitoring to measure concrete impact
The experiment is based on a monitoring committee which regularly brings together the patient associations, health professionals and manufacturers involved. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the system and its actual adoption by the different audiences.
Precise indicators are used throughout the project. Satisfaction forms and surveys measure understanding of instructions, clarity of content and ease of access. At the same time, the number of QR codes scanned and navigation data make it possible to monitor the actual use of the e-notice in the field. A first national survey, conducted by Viavoice before the official launch, served as a starting point to analyze the evolution of practices.
Finally, the test will last until 2027, then, at the end of this period, the results will make it possible to decide whether this model can be generalized to all medicines sold in France.
If access to information evolves in France, the approaches follow the same movement. Since November 18, 2025, you can register your Vitale card on iPhone.
By: Keleops AG
