ATC

ATC or Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System is a system of alphanumeric codes developed by the WHO for the classification of drugs and other medical products. The ATC system is used worldwide for drug utilization research to improve quality of drug use. Each drug is assigned a specific code according to the organ or system it acts upon and its therapeutic, pharmacological and chemical properties.

Etymology

The term "Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical" refers to the system's method of categorizing drugs based on their therapeutic effects on different anatomical sites, their chemical characteristics, and their therapeutic and pharmacological properties.

Structure

The ATC system has a hierarchical structure, with five different levels. The first level of the system is based on the anatomical main group and consists of one letter. There are 14 main groups. The second level of the system is the therapeutic main group and consists of two digits. The third level of the system is the therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter. The fourth level of the system is the chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup and consists of one letter. The fifth level of the system is the chemical substance and consists of two digits.

Related Terms

• WHO: World Health Organization, the body that developed the ATC system.
• Drug Utilization Research: Area of research that the ATC system is commonly used in.
• Pharmacology: The study of drugs and their effects on the body, a key aspect in the ATC system.

See Also

• List of ATC codes
• International Classification of Diseases

References

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