Lääkeluetteloa

Lääkeluetteloa is the Finnish term for the national drug catalogue used in Finland. It refers to the official registry that lists medicines and related products that are approved for sale and, in many cases, reimbursed under the Finnish national health insurance system. The catalogue serves as a central reference for information used in dispensing, prescribing, and reimbursement processes.

The Lääkeluetteloa typically includes data for each product such as brand name, active substance, dosage form, strength, package size, and the manufacturer. It also contains regulatory and financial information, including the reimbursement status, reimbursement category or rate, and the patient co-payment. In addition, it may provide identifiers and guidance relevant to pharmacy practice, such as substitution rights and price data. The exact scope can vary, but the catalogue generally covers medicines that are available in Finnish pharmacies and health care settings.

Maintenance and governance of the Lääkeluetteloa involve Finnish authorities responsible for medicines and health economics. This typically includes coordination between agencies that regulate pharmaceuticals and administer reimbursements, such as the national health insurance authority and the national medicines authority. The catalogue is updated regularly to reflect new medicines, changes in reimbursement rules, price adjustments, and other regulatory developments.

Use and applications of the Lääkeluetteloa include supporting accurate dispensation in pharmacies, informing hospital procurement and formulary decisions, and enabling consistent pricing and billing in health information systems. It also serves as a reference point in health data reporting and statistics. In Finnish usage, the form Lääkeluetteloa appears as the object of related statements, with the term itself referring to the catalog as a concept.