Turkey to Replace Printed Medicine Leaflets with “Electronic Leaflets”

The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) has announced a comprehensive plan to gradually replace traditional paper leaflets included inside medicine packages with an innovative “electronic leaflet” (e-KT) system.

Under the new system, the lengthy paper information leaflet inside medicine packages will be replaced by a QR code printed on the outer packaging.

Patients will simply be able to point their mobile phone or tablet camera at the code to gain instant and direct access to all medication information, including instructions for use, recommended dosages, side effects, and medical warnings, without the need to download any additional or complicated applications.

Transition Timeline

• December 31, 2026: The end of the trial and preparation period granted to pharmaceutical companies to modify their production lines and update their packaging.
• January 1, 2027: The electronic leaflet system will become fully mandatory at all pharmacies and medication-dispensing facilities across the country.

Health authorities have reassured patients who may not own smartphones or may have difficulty using digital technology, stressing that paper leaflets will not be completely banned. Consumers and patients will still have the right to request a printed copy directly from the pharmacist when purchasing their medication.

The report also clarified that the absence of a paper instruction leaflet inside a medicine package in the future will not mean that the medicine is counterfeit or adulterated. Instead, it will indicate that the manufacturer has adopted the new digital system.

Key Benefits of the Plan

One of the main advantages of the transition is the ability to update information automatically. Whenever the medical authority changes any information or warning related to a particular medication, the electronic version will be updated immediately through the link. This will protect patients from relying on outdated or expired information that was previously printed in traditional paper leaflets.

The decision comes amid the enormous scale of Turkey’s pharmaceutical market. Official statistics for 2025 showed that around 2.7 billion medicine packages were sold in the Turkish market, while pharmaceutical spending by the Social Security Institution (SGK) surged to 411.64 billion Turkish liras.

Nearly 508.9 million prescriptions were recorded in just one year, with anti-rheumatic medicines and cardiovascular drugs topping the list of the most widely used treatments in the country.