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Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN)

Provides a generic system to identify medical device products used to diagnose, monitor, treat and prevent disease or injury.

Documentation

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

Using this standard

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

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 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