What is the NHS dm+d and why is it important?

What is the NHS dm+d database? 

The dictionary of medicines and devices is referred to as the dm+d and is authored and maintained by the NHSBSA.

The dm+d is the NHS standard database of medicines and devices used across the NHS containing a full list of products and product packs used by healthcare professionals in the UK.

The dm+d contains a variety of information on each product and pack listed including the NHS indicative price, pack size, form, strength and supplier.

All pharmaceutical companies must enter their product information into the dm+d to ensure their products can be prescribed and dispensed by Healthcare IT systems in the UK.

Who uses the NHS dm+d?

• Healthcare IT systems
• CCG’s – medicines management teams
• Community pharmacy
• Hospital pharmacy
• NHS digital
• NHSX

Why is the dm+d important?

The dm+d database provides standardised codes and descriptions for medicines and devices used across the healthcare eco system throughout the UK.

More specifically, all healthcare IT systems rely on dm+d information to identify and describe medicines and devices and facilitate interoperability. This is fundamentally important for the effective functioning of the electronic prescription service, clinical decision support and healthcare IT systems which are all used by healthcare professionals to deliver patient care.

Benefits of the dm+d

• Accuracy – Medicines are accurately prescribed, dispensed and reimbursed
• Improved patient safety – by using dm+d standardised descriptions of medicines, this reduces the risk of transcription errors
• Enhanced quality of information – users can consistently and unambiguously share information about medicines, facilitating interoperability
• Improved access to standardised medicines information – the dm+d is a publicly available database
• Reduced duplication of data entry – A medicine can only be added to the dm+d once, providing a unique identifier and description of that product

How to access the dm+d

The best way to view and search the NHS dm+d database is by using emc med data (part of our market access solution), a platform to access the dm+d database with an advanced search functionality and a range of filters, resulting in faster results. It also integrates emc website links to easily view product SmPCs and Patient Leaflets. Find more information on our dedicated article on how to access the dm+d database.

Datapharm offers Pharma a full suite of products for updating and managing product information in the dm+d. Learn more about the emc market access solution.