Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment ... - WHOCC

linked to each medicinal product on the package level. National registries shouldas a minimum include the following variables:• Unique identifier (registration number)• Medicinal product name (brand name/trademark)• Pharmaceutical form• Strength• Pack size• ATC code• Active ingredient(s)• DDD• Route of administration• Number of DDDs in the packFor an extended list of recommended variables to be included in a nationalmedicinal product registry, see EURO-MED-STAT(http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_projects/2001/monitoring/fp_monitoring_2001_frep_12_1_en.pdf).It is of vital importance that the ATC code is correctly linked to each medicinalproduct package. The number of DDDs per package should be calculated for eachmedicinal product package.Good procedures for updating national registries with new ATC codes/DDDs andalterations should be established. It is recommended that the responsibility forquality assurance and validation of national registries is allocated to a national bodyin each country. This work should be performed by competent persons with goodknowledge of the ATC/DDD methodology.An updated version of the ATC/DDD Index is issued in January each year. To beable to compare drug utilization data from different countries and time periods, it isessential to know which ATC codes and DDDs are used. A minimum number ofchanges in the ATC codes and DDDs are made annually. Thus, it is important togive proper references to the ATC/DDD version used when presenting drugconsumption figures.A publication entitled“Introduction to Drug Utilization Research” is available from WHO Geneva andthe website of the Centre.32