Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN)
Provides a generic system to identify medical device products used to diagnose, monitor, treat and prevent disease or injury.
About this standard
- Publisher
- NHS England
- Also known as
- Also known as GMDN.
- Reference code
- DAPB4004 Amd 20/2021
- Publication date
- 09/02/2023
- Status
- Active
Show definitions of statuses
Active. Active standards are stable, maintained and have been approved, assured or endorsed for use by qualified bodies.
Deprecated Deprecated standards are available for use and are maintained, but are being phased out, so new functionality will not be added.
Retired standards Retired standards are not being maintained or supported and should not be used.
- Standard type
- Information standards
Show definitions of standard types
Collections. A Collection is a systematic gathering of a specified selection of data or information for a particular stated purpose from existing records held within health and care systems and electronic devices.
Extractions. An extraction is a type of collection that is pulled from an operational system by the data controller and transmitted to the receiver without additional processing or transcription by the sender.
Information standards. Information standards are agreed ways of doing something, written down as a set of precise criteria so they can be used as rules, guidelines, or definitions.
Technical Standards and specifications. Technical standards and specifications specify how to make information available technically including how the data is structured and transported.
- Contact point
Link to standard
- Documentation
- opens in a new tab
(opens in new tab)
- Applies to
- Health authorities and regulators
- Health care providers
- Manufacturers and others with a naming system that can be used to exchange medical device information and support patient safety
- Impacts on
- Implementation of this information standard impacts all health IT systems suppliers providing systems to the above providers; suppliers should work with their customers to determine necessary changes. NHS Staff within organisations using devices in scope will be able to use the GMDN in their data systems to better identify, name, and group medical devices.
- Conformance date
- 31/12/2023
- Effective from
- 15/02/2023
Topics and care settings
- Topic
- Adult
- Care
- Continuity of care
- Data definitions and terminologies
- Dispensing
- Prescribing
- Tests and diagnostics
- Vaccination
- Care setting
- Community health
- Dentistry
- Hospital
- Maternity
- Mental health
- Pharmacy
- Social care
- Urgent and Emergency Care
Dependencies and related standards
- Dependencies
No known dependencies.
- Related standards
Review Information
- Scope
- Health Services, NHS Services, Adult Social Care
- Sponsor
Stuart Abbott, Principal Terminology Specialist, NHS Digital
- Senior Responsible Officer
Barry Daniels, Technical Lead, GMDN Agency
- Approval date
- 26/01/2023
- Post Implementation review Date
- 31/12/2024
Legal basis and endorsements
- Legal authority
Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
- Collaborating Organisations
No known endorsements.
More information
The Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) provides a generic system to identify medical device products used to diagnose, monitor, treat and prevent disease or injury. It provides a generic or common name for devices. The system allows sharing of data on medical device use, supporting patient safety. GMDN is a global standard, independent of manufacturer proprietary name or identifier. It is already used widely across the NHS.
Page last updated: 03 May 2024