ATC-Index and the importance of fifth level for Medicinal products
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NoMA solutions contains all valid ATC codes in both Norwegian and English, we work in close collaboration with the WHOCC.
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ATC Index - made for statistics
The ATC Index from WHOCC, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, is built with one purpose: to be a statistical tool. To be able to issue a marketing authorization through NoMA, it is mandatory to have a valid ATC code, preferably at the fifth level, meaning a complete code where changes are avoided. Medicinal products with an unchanged ATC code ensure that statistics for the Medicines Register at FHI, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, can be properly maintained.
ATC codes an publications at NoMA
NoMA publishes Norwegian ATC codes assigned to marketed products in FEST. ATC codes for products that disappear from FEST for various reasons, disappear simultaneously. In the FHIR service, the complete human ATC Index is published with both Norwegian and English terms. The ATC Index is translated into Norwegian in RMS, and there are two separate lists, human and veterinary, corresponding to what WHOCC has. Traditionally, NoMA has had this in one solution but specified with a domain for correct usage and publication.
Updates and alterations in the ATC Index including history
The ATC classification system from WHOCC is continuously expanding and regularly updated. NoMA is required to follow alterations from WHOCC and conducts an annual review where they are applied to the products. This happens annually in conjunction with the FEST publication on February 1st in collaboration with Farmalogg so that all usage is updated simultaneously. However, it is the industry's responsibility to apply for changes to the SmPC so that these are updated according to the correct codes.
The ATC classification system in Norway has traditionally been used for purposes other than statistics. This is because it is a good tool for categorization. This is not necessarily beneficial, and NoMA has a larger task with annual changes also for annually changes also for
- Reimbursement
- Interactions
- Prescribing by active ingredient
In the FHIR service, a connection between the substance and ATC code is published when the code pertains to a single substance. This linkage allows for better tracking and historical referencing, including ATC codes that were linked to former or obsolete codes, with records dating back to 2008. This continuity supports maintaining historical data integrity even when codes change over time.