Regulation

Improving Patient Information

Published 18 March 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-patient-information/improving-patient-information

Project overview 

Your health decisions matter. The information you receive about your medicines should be clear, accessible, and support informed conversations between you and your healthcare professional. The MHRA is committed to leading a fully inclusive approach to improving medicines information for everyone. 

To achieve this, we have launched the Improving Patient Information project, which will work closely with stakeholders across the UK health system including patient groups and charities to understand current barriers and identify how information can be made more accessible, trusted, and fit for the future. 

Our aim is to ensure that patient information for medicinal products is clearer, inclusive, and easier to understand. This will be achieved by placing patients at the centre of every stage of the project. 

A major focus of this work will be improving access to patient information leaflets in the UK through the use of digital solutions. 

The Improving Patient Information project has a three-phase approach to delivery:  

  • Phase one (April 2025-March 2026): Scoping phase focused on engaging with stakeholders across the health system, understanding how patients access patient information and proposing an action plan  

  • Phase two (2026-2027): Establishing a multi-stakeholder governance structure and collaborating with partners across the healthcare system to deliver the action plan  

  • Phase three (2027-2028): Reviewing the impact of action plan, developing a strategy for implementation.  

We have five design principles to guide our work: patient centred, accessible, trusted, innovative, and standardised. 

If you would like to be involved in phase 2, please contact: IPI@mhra.gov.uk for further information. 

We look forward to keeping you updated as the project progresses and will highlight key milestones. Please make sure you are signed up to this webpage to receive updates. 

Research reports 

Woodnewton Associates was commissioned by the MHRA to conduct independent research on the role that patient information leaflets provide to informing patients. The findings and recommendations presented in this report are those of the researchers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MHRA. 

  • Title 

    • Research conducted on the role that patient information leaflets provide to informing patients 

  • Details 

    • A research report defining the current baseline for patient engagement with and accessibility of patient information leaflets. 

    • This research was commissioned and funded by MHRA. Its aim is to provide evidence that will help inform future changes to patient information to make it more accessible, trusted, and fit for the future 

    • Our action plan is based on evidence we have gained through this research.  

  • Report:  Research on the Role of Patient Information Leaflets in Meeting the Information Needs of Patients

Contact us 

If you have any questions with our Improving Patient Information project, please contact: IPI@mhra.gov.uk

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