ATC Code - The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical
(ATC) Classification System code. In the ATC classification system, drugs
are divided into different groups according to the organ or system on which
they act and their chemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Drugs
are classified into groups at five different levels:
- 1st level - drugs are divided
into one of the following fourteen anatomical groups (one numeric
character). The first level of the code is based on a letter e.g. “A”
Alimentary tract and metabolism.
A
|
Alimentary tract and metabolism
|
B
|
Blood and blood forming organs
|
C
|
Cardiovascular system
|
D
|
Dermatologicals
|
G
|
Genito-urinary system and sex hormones
|
H
|
Systemic hormonal preparations, excluding
sex hormones and insulin
|
J
|
Anti-infectives for systemic use
|
L
|
Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents
|
M
|
Musculo-skeletal system
|
N
|
Nervous system
|
P
|
Antiparasitic products, insecticides and
repellents
|
Q
|
Veterinary drugs
|
R
|
Respiratory system
|
S
|
Sensory organs
|
V
|
Various
|
- 2nd level - is a
pharmacological/therapeutic subgroup (two numeric characters).
- 3rd and 4th levels - are
chemical/pharmacological/therapeutic subgroups (two alpha characters).
- 5th level - is the subgroup for
the chemical substance (two numeric characters).
Active Ingredient - The substance in the medicinal
product that is pharmaceutically active.
Borderline
substances - Mainly
foodstuffs, such as enteral feeds and foods that are specially formulated for
people with medical conditions, but also include some toiletries e.g. sun
blocks for use by people with conditions such as photodermatosis.
Department - The use of certain medicinal
products may be restricted to particular wards or areas within the hospital.
Requests originating from these areas do not require endorsement by a
consultant.
Disease
Category - Classifies
medicinal products according to the clinical indications, related to a
particular system of the body or to an aspect of medical care.
Dosage Form and Strength - Describes the physical form and the
amount of the active ingredient in the medicinal product.
Health
Technology Assessment (HTA)
- The systematic evaluation of properties, effects, and/or impacts of health technology. It is a
multidisciplinary process to evaluate the medical, social, economic,
organizational and ethical issues of a health intervention
or health technology.
Medicinal
Product - Any
substance or combination of substances presented for treating or preventing
disease in human beings, as well as any substance or combination of substances
which may be administered to human beings with a view to making a medical
diagnosis, or to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in
human beings.
New
Medicinal Product - A
medicinal product which is not included/covered by the current version of the
list of medicines available within the National Health Services including:
- a medicinal product which is not
included on the Formulary
- a medicinal product whose
therapeutic group is listed on the list of medicines available within the National
Health Services but this medicine is not covered by the current
specifications
- a medicinal product which is
listed on the list of medicines available within the National Health
Services but which is requested for indications other than those for which
it is being requested.
Pink
Card Positive - Refers
to the medicinal products, together with the accompanying prescribing criteria,
which can be issued to patients in possession of a Pink Card (Schedule II Card)
for conditions not covered by Schedule V of the Social Security Act. Pink
card positive drugs are classified into acute (A), chronic (C) and both acute
and chronic use (B).
(A)
– Items for Acute Use
Medicines
are classified as (A) for conditions where treatment should have a rapid onset
and is of short duration.
(C)
– Items for Chronic Use
Medicines
are classified as being for chronic use if they are utilized for the treatment
of an ongoing or recurring condition.
(B)
– Items for Both Acute and Chronic use
Medicines
which can be used for both acute and chronic use according to the condition.
Pink Card Prescriber
Criteria - The
category of medical practitioners allowed prescribing of a particular Pink Card
positive medicinal product for Pink Card entitlement.
Protocol - Certain medicinal products are further
regulated with a medicine protocol. These are marked with a number e.g. MP 177.
Medicine protocols outline the restricted use of a medicinal product as
approved within the National Health Services. These protocols are applicable
both for inpatient as well as for outpatient prescribing. The prescription of a
medicinal product with a medicine protocol requires a Request for
Protocol-Regulated Medicines for the respective medicinal products. If treatment
is to be continued on an outpatient basis, the Request Form for the supply of
Free Drugs in terms of Schedule V (Part II) of Social Security Act needs to be
filled in accordingly.
Schedule V Entitlement -
The Schedule V condition/s for which the medicinal product can be issued
via Schedule V entitlement according to the Fifth Schedule of the Social Security
Act.
Schedule V Prescriber
Criteria - The
category of medical practitioners allowed initiating treatment of a particular
medicinal product for Schedule V Card entitlement.