This is the Continuous Integration Build of FHIR (will be incorrect/inconsistent at times).
See the Directory of published versions 
Responsible Owner: Pharmacy Work Group | Normative | Security Category: Business | Compartments: No defined compartments |
This resource is primarily used for the identification and definition of a medication, including ingredients, for the purposes of prescribing, dispensing, and administering a medication as well as for making statements about medication use.
Representing medications in most healthcare settings is a matter of identifying an item from a list and then conveying a reference for the item selected. Additional information about the medication is frequently provided for human verification (e.g., the product name), but a full representation of the details of composition and efficacy of the medicine is conveyed by referring to drug dictionaries by means of the codes they define. There are some occasions where it is necessary to identify slightly more detail, such as when dispensing a package containing a particular medication requires identification both of the medicine and the package at once. There are also some occasions (e.g. custom formulations) where the composition of a medicine must be represented. In these cases, the ingredients of the medicine must be specified together with the amount contained, though the Medication resource does not provide full details.
The Medication resource allows for medications to be characterized by the form of the drug, the ingredient (or ingredients), and how it is packaged. The medication will include the ingredient(s), and their strength(s) and the package can include the amount (for example, number of tablets, volume, etc.) that is contained in a particular container (for example, 100 capsules of Amoxicillin 500mg per bottle).
The Medication resource can be used to describe a compounded (aka extemporaneous or magistral) product that is manufactured by the pharmacy at the time of dispensing. In this case there will be multiple ingredients which are typically base chemicals (for example, hydrocortisone powder) and there may be other ingredients that are manufactured products (for example, Glaxal Base).
The Medication resource can also be used to describe combination packaged products. In this case, the ingredients will refer to the component products either as codes or as references to Medication resource instances.
Structure
| Name | Flags | Card. | Type | Description & Constraints Filter: ![]() ![]() |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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N | DomainResource | Definition of a Medication Elements defined in Ancestors: id, meta, implicitRules, language, text, contained, extension, modifierExtension | |
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Σ | 0..* | Identifier | Business identifier for this medication |
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Σ | 0..1 | CodeableConcept | Codes that identify this medication Binding: SNOMED CT Medication Codes (Example) |
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?!Σ | 0..1 | code | active | inactive | entered-in-error Binding: Medication Status Codes (Required) |
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Σ | 0..1 | Reference(Organization) | Organization that has authorization to market medication |
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0..1 | CodeableConcept | powder | tablets | capsule + Binding: SNOMED CT Form Codes (Example) | |
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ΣC | 0..1 | BackboneElement | When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package + Rule: Either numberOfItems or amountPerItem must exist |
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0..1 | SimpleQuantity | The number of items in the package that are represented by the code | |
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0..1 | Ratio | The amount per each item | |
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0..* | BackboneElement | Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications | |
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1..1 | CodeableReference(Substance | SubstanceDefinition | Medication) | The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient Binding: SNOMED CT Medication Codes (Example) | |
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0..1 | boolean | Active ingredient indicator | |
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0..1 | CodeableConcept | A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc. Binding: RoleClassIngredientEntity (Example) | |
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0..1 | Quantity of ingredient present Binding: Medication Ingredient Strength Codes (Preferred) | ||
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Ratio | |||
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CodeableConcept | |||
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Quantity | |||
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0..1 | BackboneElement | Details about packaged medications | |
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0..* | Identifier | Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number | |
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0..1 | string | Identifier assigned to batch | |
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0..1 | dateTime | When instance will expire | |
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0..1 | Reference(MedicinalProductDefinition | AdministrableProductDefinition | PackagedProductDefinition | ManufacturedItemDefinition) | Formal definition of the medication | |
Documentation for this format ![]() | ||||
See the Extensions for this resource
UML Diagram (Legend)
XML Template
<Medication xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"><!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language --> <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension --> <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Business identifier for this medication --></identifier> <code><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Codes that identify this medication --></code> <status value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 active | inactive | entered-in-error --> <marketingAuthorizationHolder><!-- 0..1 Reference(Organization) Organization that has authorization to market medication --></marketingAuthorizationHolder> <doseForm><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept powder | tablets | capsule + --></doseForm> <packageSize> <!-- 0..1 When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package --> <numberOfItems><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) The number of items in the package that are represented by the code --></numberOfItems> <amountPerItem><!-- 0..1 Ratio The amount per each item --></amountPerItem> </packageSize> <ingredient> <!-- 0..* Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications --> <item><!-- 1..1 CodeableReference(Medication|Substance|SubstanceDefinition) The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient --></item> <isActive value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 Active ingredient indicator --> <role><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc.
--></role> <strength[x]><!-- 0..1 Ratio|CodeableConcept|Quantity Quantity of ingredient present --></strength[x]> </ingredient> <instance> <!-- 0..1 Details about packaged medications --> <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number --></identifier> <lotNumber value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Identifier assigned to batch --> <expirationDate value="[dateTime]"/><!-- 0..1 When instance will expire --> </instance> <definition><!-- 0..1 Reference(AdministrableProductDefinition| ManufacturedItemDefinition|MedicinalProductDefinition| PackagedProductDefinition) Formal definition of the medication --></definition> </Medication>
JSON Template
{
"resourceType" : "Medication",
// from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
// from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
"identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Business identifier for this medication
"code" : { CodeableConcept }, // Codes that identify this medication
"status" : "<code>", // active | inactive | entered-in-error
"marketingAuthorizationHolder" : { Reference(Organization) }, // Organization that has authorization to market medication
"doseForm" : { CodeableConcept }, // powder | tablets | capsule +
"packageSize" : { // When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package
"numberOfItems" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // The number of items in the package that are represented by the code
"amountPerItem" : { Ratio } // The amount per each item
},
"ingredient" : [{ // Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications
"item" : { CodeableReference(Medication|Substance|SubstanceDefinition) }, // R! The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient
"isActive" : <boolean>, // Active ingredient indicator
"role" : { CodeableConcept }, // A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc.
// strength[x]: Quantity of ingredient present. One of these 3:
"strengthRatio" : { Ratio },
"strengthCodeableConcept" : { CodeableConcept },
"strengthQuantity" : { Quantity }
}],
"instance" : { // Details about packaged medications
"identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number
"lotNumber" : "<string>", // Identifier assigned to batch
"expirationDate" : "<dateTime>" // When instance will expire
},
"definition" : { Reference(AdministrableProductDefinition|
ManufacturedItemDefinition|MedicinalProductDefinition|
PackagedProductDefinition) } // Formal definition of the medication
}
Turtle Template
@prefix fhir: <http://hl7.org/fhir/> .[ a fhir:Medication; fhir:nodeRole fhir:treeRoot; # if this is the parser root # from Resource: fhir:id, fhir:meta, fhir:implicitRules, and fhir:language # from DomainResource: fhir:text, fhir:contained, fhir:extension, and fhir:modifierExtension fhir:identifier ( [ Identifier ] ... ) ; # 0..* Business identifier for this medication fhir:code [ CodeableConcept ] ; # 0..1 Codes that identify this medication fhir:status [ code ] ; # 0..1 active | inactive | entered-in-error fhir:marketingAuthorizationHolder [ Reference(Organization) ] ; # 0..1 Organization that has authorization to market medication fhir:doseForm [ CodeableConcept ] ; # 0..1 powder | tablets | capsule + fhir:packageSize [ # 0..1 When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package fhir:numberOfItems [ Quantity(SimpleQuantity) ] ; # 0..1 The number of items in the package that are represented by the code fhir:amountPerItem [ Ratio ] ; # 0..1 The amount per each item ] ; fhir:ingredient ( [ # 0..* Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications fhir:item [ CodeableReference(Medication|Substance|SubstanceDefinition) ] ; # 1..1 The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient fhir:isActive [ boolean ] ; # 0..1 Active ingredient indicator fhir:role [ CodeableConcept ] ; # 0..1 A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc. # strength[x] : 0..1 Quantity of ingredient present. One of these 3 fhir:strength [ a fhir:Ratio ; Ratio ] fhir:strength [ a fhir:CodeableConcept ; CodeableConcept ] fhir:strength [ a fhir:Quantity ; Quantity ] ] ... ) ; fhir:instance [ # 0..1 Details about packaged medications fhir:identifier ( [ Identifier ] ... ) ; # 0..* Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number fhir:lotNumber [ string ] ; # 0..1 Identifier assigned to batch fhir:expirationDate [ dateTime ] ; # 0..1 When instance will expire ] ; fhir:definition [ Reference(AdministrableProductDefinition|ManufacturedItemDefinition| MedicinalProductDefinition|PackagedProductDefinition) ] ; # 0..1 Formal definition of the medication ]
Changes from both R4 and R4B
| Medication | |
| Medication.marketingAuthorizationHolder |
|
| Medication.doseForm |
|
| Medication.packageSize |
|
| Medication.packageSize.numberOfItems |
|
| Medication.packageSize.amountPerItem |
|
| Medication.ingredient.item |
|
| Medication.ingredient.role |
|
| Medication.ingredient.strength[x] |
|
| Medication.instance |
|
| Medication.instance.identifier |
|
| Medication.instance.lotNumber |
|
| Medication.instance.expirationDate |
|
| Medication.definition |
|
| Medication.manufacturer |
|
| Medication.form |
|
| Medication.amount |
|
| Medication.batch |
|
See the Full Difference for further information
This analysis is available for R4 as XML or JSON and for R4B as XML or JSON.
Structure
| Name | Flags | Card. | Type | Description & Constraints Filter: ![]() ![]() |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
N | DomainResource | Definition of a Medication Elements defined in Ancestors: id, meta, implicitRules, language, text, contained, extension, modifierExtension | |
![]() ![]() |
Σ | 0..* | Identifier | Business identifier for this medication |
![]() ![]() |
Σ | 0..1 | CodeableConcept | Codes that identify this medication Binding: SNOMED CT Medication Codes (Example) |
![]() ![]() |
?!Σ | 0..1 | code | active | inactive | entered-in-error Binding: Medication Status Codes (Required) |
![]() ![]() |
Σ | 0..1 | Reference(Organization) | Organization that has authorization to market medication |
![]() ![]() |
0..1 | CodeableConcept | powder | tablets | capsule + Binding: SNOMED CT Form Codes (Example) | |
![]() ![]() |
ΣC | 0..1 | BackboneElement | When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package + Rule: Either numberOfItems or amountPerItem must exist |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | SimpleQuantity | The number of items in the package that are represented by the code | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | Ratio | The amount per each item | |
![]() ![]() |
0..* | BackboneElement | Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
1..1 | CodeableReference(Substance | SubstanceDefinition | Medication) | The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient Binding: SNOMED CT Medication Codes (Example) | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | boolean | Active ingredient indicator | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | CodeableConcept | A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc. Binding: RoleClassIngredientEntity (Example) | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | Quantity of ingredient present Binding: Medication Ingredient Strength Codes (Preferred) | ||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ratio | |||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
CodeableConcept | |||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Quantity | |||
![]() ![]() |
0..1 | BackboneElement | Details about packaged medications | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..* | Identifier | Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | string | Identifier assigned to batch | |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
0..1 | dateTime | When instance will expire | |
![]() ![]() |
0..1 | Reference(MedicinalProductDefinition | AdministrableProductDefinition | PackagedProductDefinition | ManufacturedItemDefinition) | Formal definition of the medication | |
Documentation for this format ![]() | ||||
See the Extensions for this resource
XML Template
<Medication xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"><!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language --> <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension --> <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Business identifier for this medication --></identifier> <code><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept Codes that identify this medication --></code> <status value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 active | inactive | entered-in-error --> <marketingAuthorizationHolder><!-- 0..1 Reference(Organization) Organization that has authorization to market medication --></marketingAuthorizationHolder> <doseForm><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept powder | tablets | capsule + --></doseForm> <packageSize> <!-- 0..1 When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package --> <numberOfItems><!-- 0..1 Quantity(SimpleQuantity) The number of items in the package that are represented by the code --></numberOfItems> <amountPerItem><!-- 0..1 Ratio The amount per each item --></amountPerItem> </packageSize> <ingredient> <!-- 0..* Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications --> <item><!-- 1..1 CodeableReference(Medication|Substance|SubstanceDefinition) The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient --></item> <isActive value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 Active ingredient indicator --> <role><!-- 0..1 CodeableConcept A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc.
--></role> <strength[x]><!-- 0..1 Ratio|CodeableConcept|Quantity Quantity of ingredient present --></strength[x]> </ingredient> <instance> <!-- 0..1 Details about packaged medications --> <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number --></identifier> <lotNumber value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Identifier assigned to batch --> <expirationDate value="[dateTime]"/><!-- 0..1 When instance will expire --> </instance> <definition><!-- 0..1 Reference(AdministrableProductDefinition| ManufacturedItemDefinition|MedicinalProductDefinition| PackagedProductDefinition) Formal definition of the medication --></definition> </Medication>
JSON Template
{
"resourceType" : "Medication",
// from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
// from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
"identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Business identifier for this medication
"code" : { CodeableConcept }, // Codes that identify this medication
"status" : "<code>", // active | inactive | entered-in-error
"marketingAuthorizationHolder" : { Reference(Organization) }, // Organization that has authorization to market medication
"doseForm" : { CodeableConcept }, // powder | tablets | capsule +
"packageSize" : { // When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package
"numberOfItems" : { Quantity(SimpleQuantity) }, // The number of items in the package that are represented by the code
"amountPerItem" : { Ratio } // The amount per each item
},
"ingredient" : [{ // Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications
"item" : { CodeableReference(Medication|Substance|SubstanceDefinition) }, // R! The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient
"isActive" : <boolean>, // Active ingredient indicator
"role" : { CodeableConcept }, // A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc.
// strength[x]: Quantity of ingredient present. One of these 3:
"strengthRatio" : { Ratio },
"strengthCodeableConcept" : { CodeableConcept },
"strengthQuantity" : { Quantity }
}],
"instance" : { // Details about packaged medications
"identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number
"lotNumber" : "<string>", // Identifier assigned to batch
"expirationDate" : "<dateTime>" // When instance will expire
},
"definition" : { Reference(AdministrableProductDefinition|
ManufacturedItemDefinition|MedicinalProductDefinition|
PackagedProductDefinition) } // Formal definition of the medication
}
Turtle Template
@prefix fhir: <http://hl7.org/fhir/> .[ a fhir:Medication; fhir:nodeRole fhir:treeRoot; # if this is the parser root # from Resource: fhir:id, fhir:meta, fhir:implicitRules, and fhir:language # from DomainResource: fhir:text, fhir:contained, fhir:extension, and fhir:modifierExtension fhir:identifier ( [ Identifier ] ... ) ; # 0..* Business identifier for this medication fhir:code [ CodeableConcept ] ; # 0..1 Codes that identify this medication fhir:status [ code ] ; # 0..1 active | inactive | entered-in-error fhir:marketingAuthorizationHolder [ Reference(Organization) ] ; # 0..1 Organization that has authorization to market medication fhir:doseForm [ CodeableConcept ] ; # 0..1 powder | tablets | capsule + fhir:packageSize [ # 0..1 When the code does not specify the package size, this backbone element can be used to specify the overall amount of medication in the package fhir:numberOfItems [ Quantity(SimpleQuantity) ] ; # 0..1 The number of items in the package that are represented by the code fhir:amountPerItem [ Ratio ] ; # 0..1 The amount per each item ] ; fhir:ingredient ( [ # 0..* Components of a medication. These can be ingredient substances or other medications, in the case of combination packaged medications fhir:item [ CodeableReference(Medication|Substance|SubstanceDefinition) ] ; # 1..1 The specific substance or medication that is the ingredient fhir:isActive [ boolean ] ; # 0..1 Active ingredient indicator fhir:role [ CodeableConcept ] ; # 0..1 A code that defines the type of ingredient, active, base, etc. # strength[x] : 0..1 Quantity of ingredient present. One of these 3 fhir:strength [ a fhir:Ratio ; Ratio ] fhir:strength [ a fhir:CodeableConcept ; CodeableConcept ] fhir:strength [ a fhir:Quantity ; Quantity ] ] ... ) ; fhir:instance [ # 0..1 Details about packaged medications fhir:identifier ( [ Identifier ] ... ) ; # 0..* Identifier for the physical instance, typically a serial number fhir:lotNumber [ string ] ; # 0..1 Identifier assigned to batch fhir:expirationDate [ dateTime ] ; # 0..1 When instance will expire ] ; fhir:definition [ Reference(AdministrableProductDefinition|ManufacturedItemDefinition| MedicinalProductDefinition|PackagedProductDefinition) ] ; # 0..1 Formal definition of the medication ]
Changes from both R4 and R4B
| Medication | |
| Medication.marketingAuthorizationHolder |
|
| Medication.doseForm |
|
| Medication.packageSize |
|
| Medication.packageSize.numberOfItems |
|
| Medication.packageSize.amountPerItem |
|
| Medication.ingredient.item |
|
| Medication.ingredient.role |
|
| Medication.ingredient.strength[x] |
|
| Medication.instance |
|
| Medication.instance.identifier |
|
| Medication.instance.lotNumber |
|
| Medication.instance.expirationDate |
|
| Medication.definition |
|
| Medication.manufacturer |
|
| Medication.form |
|
| Medication.amount |
|
| Medication.batch |
|
See the Full Difference for further information
This analysis is available for R4 as XML or JSON and for R4B as XML or JSON.
Additional definitions: Master Definition XML + JSON, XML Schema/Schematron + JSON Schema, ShEx (for Turtle) + see the extensions, the spreadsheet version & the dependency analysis
| Path | ValueSet | Type | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medication.code | SNOMEDCTMedicationCodes | Example | This value set includes all drug or medicament substance codes and all pharmaceutical/biologic products from SNOMED CT - provided as an exemplar value set. |
| Medication.status | MedicationStatusCodes | Required | Medication Status Codes |
| Medication.doseForm | SNOMEDCTFormCodes | Example | This value set includes all dose form codes from SNOMED CT - provided as an exemplar. |
| Medication.ingredient.item | SNOMEDCTMedicationCodes | Example | This value set includes all drug or medicament substance codes and all pharmaceutical/biologic products from SNOMED CT - provided as an exemplar value set. |
| Medication.ingredient.role | RoleClassIngredientEntity |
Example | Relates a component (player) to a mixture (scoper). E.g., Glucose and Water are ingredients of D5W, latex may be an ingredient in a tracheal tube. |
| Medication.ingredient.strength[x] | MedicationIngredientStrengthCodes | Preferred | Medication Ingredient Strength Codes |
| UniqueKey | Level | Location | Description | Expression |
med-1 | Rule | Medication.packageSize | Either numberOfItems or amountPerItem must exist | numberOfItems.exists() or amountPerItem.exists() |
Search parameters for this resource. See also the full list of search parameters for this resource, and check the Extensions registry for search parameters on extensions related to this resource. The common parameters also apply. See Searching for more information about searching in REST, messaging, and services.
| Name | Type | Description | Expression | In Common |
| code | token | Returns medications for a specific code | Medication.code | 19 Resources |
| expiration-date | date | Returns medications in a batch with this expiration date | Medication.instance.expirationDate | |
| form | token | Returns medications for a specific dose form | Medication.doseForm | |
| identifier | token | Returns medications with this external identifier | Medication.identifier | 58 Resources |
| ingredient | reference | Returns medications for this ingredient reference | Medication.ingredient.item.reference | |
| ingredient-code | token | Returns medications for this ingredient code | Medication.ingredient.item.concept | |
| lot-number | token | Returns medications in a batch with this lot number | Medication.instance.lotNumber | |
| marketingauthorizationholder | reference | Returns medications made or sold for this marketing authorization holder | Medication.marketingAuthorizationHolder (Organization) |
|
| serial-number | token | Returns medications in a instance with this lot number | Medication.identifier | |
| status | token | Returns medications for this status | Medication.status |