Glossary of Terms

DRUG IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (DIN)

 

A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a number assigned by Health Canada to a drug product prior to being marketed in Canada. It consists of eight digits (numbers) generated by a computer system in the Submission and Information Policy Division.

 

The following product characteristics will identify a product as unique.

 

manufacturer;

product name;

active ingredient(s);

strength(s) of active ingredient(s);

pharmaceutical form;

route of administration;

 

BRAND NAME

 

This is the name under which the drug product is marketed.

 

ACTIVE INGREDIENT

 

An Active Ingredient is any component that has medicinal properties, and supplies pharmacological activity or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, or to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals.

 

STRENGTH

 

This refers to the amount of active ingredient contained in each dose of the product.

 

DOSAGE FORMAT

 

The dosage format is the form of presentation in which the product is supplied, e.g. tablet, capsule, powder, etc., and the form in which it is administered including the physical form (form of administration) e.g. powder for solution.

 

A product can have more than one dosage form when it is a kit (e.g. tablet, capsule).

 

ANATOMICAL THERAPEUTICAL CHEMICAL (ATC) CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

 

The purpose of the ATC system is to be used as a tool for drug utilization research in order to improve quality of drug use. One component of this is the presentation and comparison of drug consumption statistics at international and other levels.

 

The classification of a substance in the ATC system is not a recommendation for use, nor does it imply any judgments about efficacy of drugs and groups of drugs. In the Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical (ATC) classification system, the drugs are divided into different groups according to the organ or system on which they act and their chemical, pharmacological and therapeutical properties. The drugs are classified in groups at five different levels.

 

A guiding principle of the ATC is that only one code can be assigned to a product.

 

INTERCHANGEABILITY STATUS

 

The status given to a product that contains a drug or drugs in the same or similar amounts of the same or similar active ingredients in the same or similar dosage form as another product and has been designated in the Manitoba Drug Interchangeability Formulary as interchangeable with that other product.

 

ELIGIBILITY STATUS

 

Part One Benefit

 

Drug products listed under Part 1 of the Specified Drugs Regulation  are benefits with no therapeutic criteria attached to the benefit.

 

Part Two Benefit

 

Drug products listed under Part 2 of the Specified Drugs Regulation  are benefits for the length of time and conditions as outlined in the regulation.