WHODrug Global course series

4. Classifications of medicines and vaccines in WHODrug Global

This course aims to explain the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and demonstrate how ATC assignments are applied in Uppsala Monitoring Centre's (UMC's) Drug Dictionary WHODrug Global. It provides an overview of the WHODrug Standardised Drug Groupings (SDGs) and their practical applications and introduces WHODrug Customised Drug Groupings (CDGs).
This course is part 4 in the series of WHODrug Global courses.
To enrol in this course, you must meet the following requirements:
  • You are affiliated with an organisation with an active subscription for UMC’s Drug Dictionary, WHODrug Global.
  • You have a personal user account. If you do not have a user account, contact your organisation’s Access Manager. If they are unable to help, or you do not know who your Access Manager is, contact UMC at support@who-umc.org.
      • Length: 1 hour
      • Target audience: WHODrug subscribers
      • Language: English
      • Award: Yes
      • Course level: Introductory
      • Course type: Self-paced

What you will learn

ATC classification

By the end of this module, you will be able to:
  • Explain the basic structure of the ATC classification system.
  • Discuss the purpose of using the ATC classification system.
  • Recall who developed and maintains the ATC classification system. 
  • Explain how the ATC classification system is applied in WHODrug.
  • Recall the designations "official" and "UMC-assigned".
  • Interpret the concept of Herbal ATC and how it is used.
  • Explain the purpose of UMC-created ATC codes.

WHODrug SDGs and CDGs

By the end of this module, you will be able to:
  • Explain the concept of WHODrug SDGs.
  • Recall where to find detailed information about WHODrug SDGs.
  • Identify what type of records are included and excluded in a WHODrug SDG.
  • Recall the structure of WHODrug SDGs.
  • List what kind of records are included in WHODrug SDGs.
  • Explain when CDGs are useful and how they can be created.

Course feedback

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Questions and answers

How long does it take to complete the course?

It takes about 1 hour to complete this course.

Do I receive an award?

Learners that complete successfully the course, receive a confirmation of completion.

What course should I take next?

After completing this course, learners may choose 5.1 Coding with WHODrug Global B3 or 5.2 Coding with WHODrug Global C3, depending on the WHODrug Global format they use. 

Will this course give me academic credit?

No, UMC is not an academic institution.

Where do I reach out if I face any issues or have further questions?

Explore the WHODrug Global series 

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