Statistical presentation
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Welfare and HealthJonas Kirchheiner-Rasmussen
39 17 34 93
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The statistics "Sales of prescription medicine (Experimental statistics)" contain information on all sales of human medicines in Denmark, which took place via prescription. The statistics also cover the sale of medicines that do not require a prescription but are sold on prescription. Sales are calculated in relation to the number of people who have redeemed a prescription and the number of prescriptions redeemed. The statistic covers the period from the 1st of January 2016 to the 31st of December for people with registered residence in Denmark by 1st of January of the related year.
Data description
Both the number of individuals and the number of redeemed prescriptions are used as units of measurement for this statistics. Thereby the number of people with redeemed prescriptions and the number of redeemed prescriptions can be estimated in relation to type of medicine, gender, age, place of residence, origin and education.
Classification system
When publishing the statistics "Sales of prescription medicine (Experimental statistics)" the following classifications are used:
• Type of medicine: The medicines are grouped according to the ATC system (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System). In the ATC system, human medicines are classified according to the active substances, as well as therapeutic and pharmacological properties. The ATC system is divided into five hierarchical levels. In the statistics "Sales of prescription medicine (Experimental statistics)" the medicines are divided according to the two upper levels of the ATC system. Under the 1st level, the medicine is divided into 14 groups according to the human organ system:
A: Alimentary tract and metabolism B: Blood and blood forming organs C: Cardiovascular system D: Dermatologicals G: Genito urinary system and sex hormones H: Systemic hormonal preparations, excl. Sex hormones and insulins J: Antiinfectives for systemic use l: Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents M: Muscle relaxants N: Nervous system P: Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellent R: Respiratory system S: Sensory organs V: Various
Under the 2nd level, the medicines are further divided into therapeutic/pharmacological subgroups.
An overview of ATC
• Highest Education Attained classified on DISCED-15 and is divided into the following categories: Pre-primary or not elsewhere classified; primary; upper secondary education; Vocational; short-term further education; intermediate higher education; bachelors degree; masters degree, or equivalent tertiary education level.
• Ancestry is divided into the following categories; persons of Danish origin ; immigrants from western countries; immigrants from non-western countries; descendants from western countries; descendants from non-western countries.
• Residence is divided into municipal; region.
Sector coverage
The pharmacy sector in Denmark.
Statistical concepts and definitions
Prescription: An instruction from a doctor for the administration of medicines.
Medicine: Agent used to treat diseases in humans, e.g. in the form of pills.
Statistical unit
Persons who have redeemed at least one prescription in the reference year.
Redeemed prescriptions.
Statistical population
Persons who have redeemed at least one prescription in the reference year and with permanent residence in Denmark on the 1st of January in the reference year.
Reference area
Denmark
Time coverage
The statistics cover the period 1st of January 2016 to 31st of December 2021.
Base period
Not relevant for this statistic
Unit of measure
Number Proportion
Reference period
The year of the date of sales
Frequency of dissemination
Only planned publication.
Legal acts and other agreements
There is no EU regulation concerning the statistics.
Cost and burden
There is no response burden as the data are collected via administrative registers.