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Primary Care Drug Information Database (PCDID)

The transition to computerised prescription pricing, undertaken by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) in 1980, necessitated the creation of a unique drug coding system which would:

  • facilitate automated and accurate prescription pricing
  • provide General Practitioners (GPs) with prescribing information in a structured manner, enabling them to maintain effective prescribing habits
  • provide the platform for drug based information services required by bodies such as the Department of Health (DoH), Health Authorities (HAs), Regional Offices of the NHSEs (ROs), Jersey and Guernsey, Pharmacies and Research Groups.

The system produced is today known in the UK as the Primary Care Drug Information Database (PCDID). It is the most up to date and comprehensive database of Drug, Appliance, Chemical Reagent and Oxygen pricing information held in the UK. The most important features of the database, which incorporates details of 30,000 drug preparations and appliances, are:

  • the up to date information is consistent with the Drug Tariff reimbursement and remuneration procedure for NHS Pharmaceutical Services
  • it links generic drugs to their proprietary equivalents
  • it includes extensive information for each entry, manufacturer, unit of measurement, preparation class, pack size, date first prescribed, pricing information etc. Up to fifty items of information may be held for each entry
  • historical entries on the database are retained. This gives the PPA the ability to produce accurate historical drug analyses whenever required.

The database also has the capability of linking drug coding systems including the British National Formulary (BNF). World Health Organisation (WHO), Pharmaceutical Interface Produce Code (PIP), European Article Number (EAN), National Supply Vocabulary (NSV) and Read codes for product, pack and supplier can also be linked.

The focal point of the PCDID is the PPA's BNF drug code. This is a fifteen digit code comprising:

  • characters 1-7 (as per the British National Formulary Therapeutic Classification) define the chapter, section, paragraph and the sub paragraph
  • characters 8 and 9 define the drug code or chemical substance
  • characters 10-15 define the product, strength, form and the equivalent.

The code forms the basis of the Prescribing Information Services provided by the PPA to exact, aggregate, order and present drug based information. Its ability to link drugs is particularly useful for generic versus proprietary analysis.

Since 1980 the PCDID has evolved into a robust coding system, supported by a wealth of experience and expertise within the PPA's Pharmaceutical Division.

The PPA's PCDID provides the backbone of a number of well known Pharmacy and GP supplier systems. A variety of research units have their protocol designed around the PPA's BNF coding system. This is because they are secure in the knowledge that their historical trends and future requirements are protected and supported by one of the world's largest prescribing information systems.