Greener, smarter healthcare: Time to digitalise near-patient testing

Posted on 06.11.2025

MedTech Europe has released a new booklet – “Greener, Smarter Healthcare: Electronic Instructions for Near-Patient Tests” – highlighting how digital transformation can make clinical practice more efficient and sustainable.

For healthcare professionals, near-patient (point-of-care) testing is an essential tool – enabling faster decisions, improved patient outcomes, and streamlined workflows. Yet, current EU regulations still require paper Instructions for Use (IFUs) with each test, even when healthcare professionals would prefer an electronic version.

Electronic Instructions for Use (eIFU) has many benefits, such as:
• Instant access to the latest, most accurate information at the point of care
• Improved usability through search, translation, and accessibility tools
• Reduced clutter and simplified inventory management
• Environmental benefits, supporting hospitals’ sustainability goals

Surveys show that nearly 90 % of healthcare professionals already prefer eIFUs to printed versions. The current EU In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (2017/746/EU) should be updated to reflect today’s digital clinical environment which prioritises efficiency, accuracy, and greener practices.

Healthcare professionals are at the forefront of this change. Explore how eIFUs can support better care and a more sustainable future at here.