IRISH MEDICINES FORMULARY (IMF)

Medicines shortages pose an ongoing challenge for all who deal with medication: doctors – what to prescribe as an alternative – for pharmacists (where to source substitutes) and for those administering medicines (recognising what has been supplied and checking for any important safety recommendations). IMF is the driving force ensuring all professionals make safer, evidence-based medication decisions.

First introduced in 2007, IMF is now used across all disciplines in both community and secondary care. For long-established doctors, pharmacists and nurses, those just setting out in clinical practice and for those locums taking on their new roles, IMF imparts trusted information and instils confidence for best healthcare outcomes.

Ireland-Specific: Making Sense of the Irish Healthcare System

IMF is 100% Irish-owned,  designed, printed and distributed in Ireland. All details are relevant to Ireland making it the legally-appropriate reference for medicines information. Brand names are those used in Ireland (unlike non-Irish reference texts) and the prescribing information is based on the medicine’s license as approved by either the Irish regulator (HPRA) and/or the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Prices are expressed in the Euro currency and all reimbursement details are specifically for Ireland. Where medication queries arise and the health professional need to contact the company responsible for marketing the product, contact details in IMF are relevant for Ireland.

Fully-Complete: If a medicine is available and licensed in Ireland, it’s in IMF

All licensed and marketed prescription medicines, vaccines and reimbursed medical devices are included in IMF. Both original brands and generics are included to ensure health professionals have all the relevant information before making a prescribing decision. Medical devices, biosimilars and vaccines are all detailed together with Adult Oral Nutritional Supplements and frequently used unlicensed medicinal products (“ULMs”). As well as prescribing information, IMF provides safety information and practical details including reimbursement status, presentations available and storage requirements where applicable.

Independent: No advertising, no promotions, no opinions – medicines information without distractions

There is no drug advertising in IMF to ensure health professionals have access to unbiased and officially-approved prescribing and safety information. This resource is designed to help users find answers to medication queries swiftly. It is a compact and concise manual for use in everyday clinical practice.