Norwegian Prescription Database
Article
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NorPD contains a complete listing of all prescription drugs dispensed by pharmacies in Norway since 2004. Drugs supplied to hospitals and nursing homes are also partly included, but not at an individual level. The database also contains information about prescription of drugs to animals.
All pharmacies in Norway register prescriptions electronically, and the information is sent in monthly reports to NorPD in pseudonomised form. The personal ID number for every person in the register is replaced by a unique pseudonym. This makes it possible to link drug use to individuals without knowing their identity.
Personal information is not disclosed by the NorPD. The database is governed by the national regulation of 17 October 2003 about the collection and processing of health data in the Norwegian Prescription Database (see below).
Aim of the NorPD (Regulation § 1-3)
The legal basis for the NorPD is the Regulation “Forskrift om innsamling og behandling av helseopplysninger i Reseptbasert legemiddelregister (Reseptregisteret)”. The aims of the NorPD are described in § 1-3; To collect and process data on drug consumption by humans and animals to:
- Describe drug use patterns, highlighting changes over time.
- Promote and facilitate research and reviews of the safety and effectiveness of the drug use.
- Serve as a management tool for the authorities in order to ensure prescribing quality in addition to general surveillance, control and planning.
- Give the prescribers a basis for internal control, as part of an audit method to improve the quality of prescribing practices.
Use and delivery of data from the NorPD is evaluated according to the aims listed above.
