Reimbursement systems, which operate in a number of countries at the national level provide comprehensive dispensing data down to the individual prescription level, as all prescriptions are submitted and recorded for reimbursement. Alternatively, sample data can be collected manually. Computerised pharmacies can easily collect data on drugs dispensed. Dispensing data either comprehensive or sampled.Sales data such as wholesale data at a national, regional or local level.The ATC/DDD system can be used for collection of drug utilization statistics in a variety of settings and from a variety of sources: Educational interventions may include articles in drug bulletins, articles in scientific journals, letters to clinicians, etc. Depending on the situation, this information can then be used to initiate specific studies or specific educational interventions. Use of drug utilization statistics by national health systems, universities, drug information centres, and others to identify possible over use, underuse or misuse of individual drugs or therapeutic groups.Publications providing feedback within health services to individual health facilities, groups of health care providers, or individual health providers.National publications, which provide clinicians, pharmacists and others with a profile of drug consumption in the country (with or without comparisons between countries or between areas within the country).For drug utilization statistics to have the best possible impact on drug use, the statistics need to be used in a focused and active manner.Įxamples of ways in which drug utilization statistics based on ATC and DDDs have been and can be used to improve drug use include the following: Use of the ATC/DDD system allows standardisation of drug groups and represents a stable drug utilization metric to enable comparisons of drug use between countries, regions, and other health care settings, and to examine trends in drug use over time and in different settings.Ĭollecting and publishing drug utilization statistics are critical elements in the process of improving the prescribing and dispensing of medicines. Consequently, using the system for other purposes can be inappropriate. This is the purpose for which the system was developed and it is with this purpose in mind that all decisions about ATC/DDD classification are made. The main purpose of the ATC/DDD system is as a tool for presenting drug utilization statistics with the aim of improving drug use. Thus, it is important to give proper references to the ATC/DDD version used when presenting drug consumption figures. A minimum number of changes in the ATC codes and DDDs are made annually. To be able to compare drug utilization data from different countries and time periods, it is essential to know which ATC codes and DDDs are used. This work should be performed by competent persons with good knowledge of the ATC/DDD methodology.Īn updated version of the ATC/DDD Index is issued in January each year. It is recommended that the responsibility for quality assurance and validation of national registries is allocated to a national body in each country. Good procedures for updating national or other registries with new ATC codes/DDDs and alterations should be established.
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