An electronic version of the ABPI compendium of data sheets and summaries of product characteristics is now available. Initially, access to the electronic compendium (www.emc.vhn.net) is restricted to health professionals, through registration at the site. From January, 2000, the site will also be open to the public.
The site includes SPCs and patient leaflets. Mr Stephen Mott (general manager of Datapharm Publications, publisher of the compendium) says that details of 2,600 medicines are included at present. From the new year, when information will be provided by the Medicines Control Agency, SPCs for all 10,000 medicines licensed in the UK, including generics, will be included. New or revised SPCs will be incorporated into the database as soon as they are approved by the MCA. Changes that have been made to a licence will be highlighted.