Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment - WHOCC

- To develop methods, manuals and guidelines for the practical application and
appropriate use of the ATC/DDD system in drug utilization studies in a variety of
settings, particularly those applicable to developing countries.
- To work with groups involved in rational drug use initiatives to integrate
methods for measurement of drug use in assessing needs and outcomes of
interventions with the aim of improving drug use.
The International Working Group meets twice annually. A teleconference may
replace one of the two annual meetings.
Meetings of the International Working Group are private and members are required
to complete a WHO declaration of interest form before the meeting. Observers
from the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, the WHO
Collaborating Centre for Drug Utilization Research & Clinical Pharmacological
Services and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Association are also invited to attend the meetings of the International Working
Group.
An open session is held prior to one of the semi-annual meetings to which any
interested party can register (see further information below). Decision-making parts
of meetings of the International Working Group will continue to be held in private.
Decisions on ATC classification or DDD assignment are published on the website
of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology and in the
publication WHO Drug Information. Any decision on a new or revised ATC
classification or DDD assignment is first published as temporary. Any interested
party wishing to dispute this decision is invited to comment within a specified
deadline after its publication. If there are no objections to a temporary decision,
then it will be published as a final decision and implemented in the next issue of the
ATC classification index with DDDs. If there is an objection then the decision will
be reconsidered at the next meeting of the International Working Group. If a new
decision is taken at the second meeting, the new decision will be published as
temporary and will be open to comments similar to the first decision. WHO has the
final responsibility for any decisions to be taken and any dispute arising in the
course of this work must be referred to WHO for final resolution.
Open Session
The open session is held once a year in connection with the meeting of the WHO
International Working Group for Drug Statistics Methodology. It is held in the
interest of transparency and consists of one hour and a half prior to the closed
decision-making session of the meeting.
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