The “End of Paper Leaflet” project aims to abolish the traditional use of paper leaflets that accompany medicines, replacing them with digitized versions integrated into a unified federal system. The central idea is to modernize the way patients access vital information about medicines and optimize the efficiency and sustainability of the process.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, once said, “Automation applied to an efficient operation will increase efficiency. Automation applied to an inefficient operation will increase inefficiency.” This thought can be directly applied to the context of medicine leaflets. The mass production of paper leaflets represents not only an unnecessary consumption of resources but also an ineffective way of disseminating information in our digital age.

Furthermore, Stewart Brand, founder of the Whole Earth Catalog, argued that “information wants to be free.” In the digital age, making information accessible, easily updated, and available to everyone is crucial. Digitizing leaflets and making them accessible through a unified system will allow all patients, regardless of their location or condition, to access the information they need in real time.

The needs are many, but we can list three: Sustainability: The production and distribution of paper leaflets consume valuable resources, such as paper and ink. By digitalizing, we reduce the environmental impact and the amount of waste produced; Accessibility: A unified digital system would ensure that all patients have access to the latest information, even if a medicine is repackaged or redistributed; Real-time update: In the event of new discoveries about a medication or additional side effects, the digital leaflet can be updated instantly, ensuring patients always have access to the latest information.

Health is a fundamental right. Therefore, ensuring that patients have easy and immediate access to correct and up-to-date information about the medications they are taking is extremely important. Digitization also allows integration with other technologies, such as health apps or medication reminder systems, further optimizing healthcare.