In addition to basic information about medicines, the database includes information about, e.g.
- the price of medicines
- the reimbursability of medicines
- substitutable medicinal products.
In addition to prescription and self-medication products with a valid marketing authorisation, the Pharmaceutical Database includes information about temporary special permit products, reimbursable emollient creams and foods for special medical purposes.
The Medicinal Products Database (kela.fi) is based on information in the Pharmaceutical Database, and you can look up the information of individual products in the service.
The information in the Pharmaceutical Database must be updated in the pharmacy and patient data systems on the 1st and 15th day of each month.
For the time being, two different versions of the Pharmaceutical Database are being distributed: the 2022 version and the old 2016 version delivered alongside it. The distribution of the 2016 version of the Pharmaceutical Database will continue in order to ensure patient and medication safety for service providers who do not have a patient information system that supports the 2022 version of the Pharmaceutical Database and the electronic prescription specification version 4.00.
The information in the Pharmaceutical Database is compiled from various sources
The information about medicines is based on information in the basic register for medicinal products (fimea.fi) of the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea. The Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board (hila.fi) and Kela produce information related to, e.g. the reimbursability of medicines. Pharmaceutical companies notify the price information of medicines.
Information either from Kela or an intermediary
Organisations using the Prescription service can obtain information and updates from the Pharmaceutical Database either through an intermediary of their choice or directly from Kela. The organisation or the intermediary of the Pharmaceutical Database concludes an agreement with Kela on the acquisition of the Pharmaceutical Database. More information is available from kanta@kanta.fi. The intermediary must not charge its own customers a fee or other consideration for providing information from the Pharmaceutical Database.
Datasets identical in content with The Pharmaceutical Database may be available also from other sources which collect or otherwise acquire pharmaceutical information to be compiled and distributed further.
For further information, contact: kanta@kanta.fi.