Introduction

In practice, there are three systems for the classification of medicinal products in Belgium: one for registered medicinal products, a second for implantable medical devices (IMDs) and a third for the remainder, of which the majority are other medical devices. The success of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification for authorised medicinal products has led to its extension to IMDs, which for the past 2 years have been reimbursed on the basis of a classification approach similar to the French Cladimed system for medical devices and implants. Since Belgian hospitals are required to issue a ‘therapeutical form’ (a compulsory list of medicinal products determined by the hospital, selected because of their economic interest, which must always be available at all times in the hospital pharmacy in order to satisfy diagnostic …