• What is In-Demand?
• Why is In-Demand important for you?
• What is the dm+d?
• Why are Datapharm involved?
• Do we have to pay to use In-Demand?
• How often is the dm+d updated?

In-Demand is the name of the web-based software designed by Datapharm Communications Ltd. In-Demand allows pharmaceutical companies to electronically update the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) about new products and product changes. In-Demand replaces your paper-based communication with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), with an electronic process that collates and tracks your changes – keeping you in control of your data. In-Demand is a free service provided by Datapharm Communications Ltd.

Once you send a submission to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) they check the information and add it to a database called the Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d). The dm+d allocates a unique code to each medicine pack. The dm+d underpins many of the NHS national IT infrastructure initiatives including electronic prescribing and electronic patient records as well as improving the efficiency of prescription reimbursement. The dm+d enables new information to be delivered more rapidly to clinical systems.

In-Demand replaces your paper-based communication with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) with an electronic process that collates and tracks your changes. At any time In-Demand will track what changes or new products you have submitted to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and will inform you when this change has been made on the dm+d database. This will make it easier for you to ensure that your product changes and launches are added to the dm+d in a timely manner and that the information is accurate. This in turn will allow your product information to be delivered more rapidly into clinical systems.

The Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) is a database which contains information about medicines and devices used in the UK. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) maintains the dm+d.

The dm+d was previously known as the UK clinical product reference source (UKCPRS), the primary care drug dictionary (PCDD), the secondary care drug dictionary (SCDD) and the medical device dictionary (MDD). These databases have now been combined into the dm+d.

The dm+d not only includes the vast majority of medicines or devices that are currently available, but also those that have been discontinued, used in clinical trials or imported. Each product or device has a unique code assigned to it, which is never deleted and the code is never reused.

The dm+d underpins many of the NHS national IT infrastructure initiatives including electronic prescribing and electronic patient records as well as improving the efficiency of prescription reimbursement.

The dm+d database can be searched and viewed via the dm+d browser at: http://dmd.medicines.org.uk.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) recognised that they were receiving an increasing number of product changes, in writing and so wanted to develop a more efficient electronic process for handling them.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) approached Datapharm Communications Ltd because of their proven track record of developing and implementing IT solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Datapharm has already developed the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), enabling companies to publish their SPCs and PILs on the internet. Datapharm also has excellent links with the pharmaceutical industry.

In-Demand is a free service provided by Datapharm Communications Ltd. To use In-Demand, companies need to register their company and users and agree to the terms and conditions of use.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) adds new data to the dm+d database on a daily basis, as they approve submissions. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) only releases this information to the dm+d browser on a weekly basis. So, once a submission has been approved by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), there can be a delay of up to 5 working days before it can be viewed on the dm+d browser.

• How do I register to become a user?

To use In-Demand, companies need to register their company and users and agree to the terms and conditions of use. If you wish to register please email us at servicedesk@medicines.org.uk.

• Who should use it?
• Do we have to use In-Demand?

In-Demand can only be used by pharmaceutical companies to update the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) about new produc ts or changes to their products.

Many companies adopt a multi-user approach with several departments inputting data to a submission, for example Customer Services, Logistics, Medical Information and Regulatory. You can register as many In-Demand users (data managers) as you feel are necessary.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) needs an updated SPC for most submissions. If an In-Demand data manager already has data management rights for the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), SPCs can be attached directly from the eMC. In-Demand data managers without eMC access have the option to attach a local file.

Yes. It is now compulsory for companies to use In-demand to update the NHSBSA. The NHSBSA will not accept new or updated product information via paper or email. In-Demand is an electronic process that collates and tracks your changes - keeping you in control of your data. This will make it easier for you to ensure your dm+d entries are accurate and should allow new information to be delivered more rapidly into clinical systems. In-Demand is a free service provided by Datapharm Communications Ltd.

• When do we need to make a submission and what type?
• What products can we submit via In-Demand?
• Do we have to use In-Demand or can we still email or write to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)?
• When do we need to tell the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)?
• How far in advance can I / should I submit data?

In-Demand can be used to make submissions for medicinal products in both primary and secondary care which are licensed and available in the UK. Submissions should only be for marketed packs and not all the packs that you are licensed to manufacture.

You should certainly consider using In-Demand every time a product changes. For example if your product licence/SPC, packaging or price changes or if you launch or discontinue a product.

More specifically you should make a submission if there are changes to the following SPC sections:

Section 1. Name of medicinal product

• If you change your product name, create a product update
• For a brand new product, create a new product submission

• If you change your active ingredient name, create a new product submission
• For a brand new product, create a new product submission

• If your licensed routes of administration change, create a product update
• For a new formulation, create a new product submission

• If your excipients change (excipients, flavours, gluten free, sugar free, CFC free or preservative free status), create a product update

• If you launch a new pack for an existing product presentation, create a new pack
• If you discontinue a pack, create a discontinue pack submission
• If you change the packaging of the product e.g. repackage the medicine into a different number of sub packs (strips), introduce or remove a calendar or hospital pack, create a pack update submission

• For an existing product pack, if you change the limited stability status (if the product has to be made up with a diluent/vehicle), create an update pack submission

• If your marketing authorisation holder changes e.g. you divest or acquire products or you merge, please contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) directly. A submission cannot be made via In-Demand.

• If your marketing authorisation number changes e.g. you divest or acquire products or you merge, please contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) directly. A submission cannot be made via In-Demand.
• If the body who has approved your product changes, create a pack update submission

And if there is:

• If the legal category changes for a pack, create a pack update submission

• If the controlled drug status changes for a product, create a product update submission

• If you launch a new product create a new product submission

• If you discontinue a product presentation and all its packs, create a discontinue product submission

• If the price for a specific pack changes create a price change submission
• If a pack or product was removed from the market and is then reinstated, create reinstate pack submission
• If the prices for many packs change at the same time, create a mass price update submission

At this stage, you should only use In-Demand to make submissions for:

• medicinal products which are primary and secondary care which are licensed and available in the UK
• marketed packs and not all the packs which you are licensed to manufacture

You should certainly consider using In-Demand every time a product changes for example if your product licence/SPC, packaging or price changes or if you launch or discontinue a product.

You should not use In-Demand for:

• appliance products
• registered homeopathic preparations
• oxygen supplies
• parallel imports
• contrast media
• radiopharmaceuticals
• Telling the NHSBSA about divesting or acquiring products or company merges

These products will be listed on the dm+d database, so if you need to update your entries, please contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) directly.

You should also contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) directly if you divest or acquire products or merge with another company.

The NHSBSA have now made it compulsory for companies to use In-Demand. They will no longer accept email or paper updates. In-Demand provides you with an electronic process that collates and tracks your changes - keeping you in control of your data. In-Demand is a free service provided by Datapharm Communications Ltd.

You should use In-Demand to tell the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) about product changes as soon as the licensing authorities/your company are approved. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) requires an approved SPC for the majority of submissions.

If you discontinue a product, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has no recommendations on when you should tell them. Companies currently inform customers at different times e.g. when you first know of the discontinuation, when the warehouse stocks have been depleted or when you anticipate wholesaler stocks being depleted. Please inform the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) at a time in line with your current company policy.

There are no restrictions on how far in advance you can make a submission. You will need to have all the relevant data and in most cases an approved SPC.

• Our data on the dm+d is wrong. How can we change it?
• Our data is missing from the dm+d. What do I do?
• Discontinued products are still shown on the dm+d browser. Is this correct?

When you view your data via the dm+d browser, if you find any errors, you should contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) dm+d helpdesk directly. Their details are given in the Help section.

Please remember that the dm+d database is an extensive database and includes not only your available products, but also discontinued products, clinical trial products and imports. Once a product has been added to the dm+d database it is never deleted. The availability field of the product will change reflecting that it is not currently available on the market.

Before contacting the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), check the browser http://dmd.medicines.org.uk to view your detailed product entries and check the availability field. Discontinued products will be marked as not available.

When you view your data via the dm+d browser, if you have products or packs that are not listed, you should use In-Demand to create either a new product or new pack submission. Once the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has approved your submission this information will be added to the dm+d database.

The dm+d database is an extensive database and includes not only your available products, but also discontinued products, clinical trial products and imports. Once a product has been assigned a unique code, the product is not deleted and so products can be seen which are not currently available.

Before contacting the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), search the browser http://dmd.medicines.org.uk to view your detailed product entries and check the availability field. Discontinued products will be marked as not available.

• How secure is In-Demand?

The security of In-Demand is taken very seriously. Access is strictly controlled and monitored and transactions employ the use of digital certificates and the very latest security technologies.

• Who is liable for the data submitted to and published on dm+d?

The pharmaceutical company will be liable for the content they submit to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) will be liable for reproducing this data and any additional content. Datapharm Communications Ltd will be liable for the In-Demand system and audit trails.