From next month, patients will be able to learn about their medicines by listening to an iPod, MP3 player or through their computer.

Patient information leaflets, which are found inside every pack of medicine, are being made available as audio MP3 files through newly launched website X-PIL, a medicine information site aimed at visually-impaired patients.

The new service is part of a collaboration between the Royal National Institute for the Blind and Datapham Communications, the not-for-profit company behind the electronic Medicines Compendium.

The partners have recently launched patient information leaflets (PILs) in Braille, large print and audio CD, adding to the RNIBs existing Medicines Information Line service through which PILs can be listened to.

ABPI president Nigel Brooksby welcomed its launch, saying: "Medicines are at their best when used by the right patient at the right time, and in this respect visually-impaired patients will receive the same opportunities as all other patients. Congratulations and good luck to all those involved in the launch of X-PIL."

All pharmaceutical companies are required to provide PILs in formats suitable for people with visual impairment under new EC regulations. The RNIB and Datapharm say their new service provides the industry with the opportunity to fulfil their obligation in a time-efficient and cost-effective way.

X-PIL will provide PILs in a number of electronic formats, including PILs in their original and large font formats as well as one suitable for screen readers.

Information on the electronic medicines compendium

Information on x-pil

pharmafocus@wiley.co.uk