ABHI - Association of the British Healthcare Industries
ACD - Appraisal Consultation Document
ADR - Adverse Drug Reaction
ADTC - Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee (Scotland)
AE - Adverse Event
AESGP - Association of the European Self Medication Industry
AGNSS - Advisory Group for National Specialised Services
AHSC - Academic Health Science Centre
AL - Adaptive Licensing
AMRC - Association of the Medical Research Charities
AMS - Academy of Medical Sciences
ANSN - Academic Health Science Network
APG - American Pharmaceutical Group
APPG - All Party Parliamentary Group/All Party Pharmacy Group
AQF - Annual Quality Framework (Health – Wales)
AQP - Any Qualified Provider
AWCG - All Wales Cancer Drugs Group (supports the AWMSG)
AWMSG - All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (HTA body for Wales)
AWPAG - All Wales Prescribing Advisory Group (subgroup of AWMSG)
BAEPD - British Association of European Pharmaceutical Distributors
BAPW - British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers
BBSRC - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
BGMA - British Generic Manufacturers Association
BHBIA - British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association
BIA - BioIndustry Association
BIG - Bioindustrial Innovation and Growth Team (BIS subgroup)
BIS - Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
BIVDA - British In Vitro Diagnostics Association
BMA - British Medical Association
BNF - British National Formulary
BNFC - British National Formulary for Children
BPG - British Pharma Group
CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
CBI - The Confederation of British Industry
CCG - Cancer Campaigning Group/Clinical Commissioning Group
CD - Controlled Drugs
CHC - Community Health Council (Wales)
CHM - Commission on Human Medicines
CHMP - Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
CLA - Copyright Licensing Agency
CMO - Chief Medical Officer
CMU - Commercial Medicines Unit
COF - Commissioning Outcomes Framework - NICE
COMP - Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products
CoP - Code of Practice (see PMCPA)
CPA - Chief Pharmaceutical Advisor (Wales)
CPO - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (Scotland)
CPRD - Clinical Practice Research Datalink
CQC - Care Quality Commission (regulates adult social care services)
CQUIN - Commissioning for Quality and Innovation
CRG - Clinical Reference Group
CRN - Clinical Research Network
CRUK - Cancer Research UK
CSA - Chief Scientific Adviser (to the Prime Minister)
CSO - Commissioning Support Organisation
CSR - Clinical Study Report
CSS - Commissioning Support Service
CSU - Commissioning Support Unit
CTA - Clinical Trial Authorisation
CTD - Clinical Trials Directive
CTD - Common Technical Document (for regulatory submissions)
CTR - Clinical Trials Regulation
D&TC - Drug and Therapeutics Committee
DEFRA - Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
DH/DoH - Department of Health
DHSS - Department of Health and Social Services (Wales only)
DHSSPS - Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
DSU - Decision Support Unit, NICE
DSUR - Developmental Safety Update Report
DTC - Direct-to-Consumer
DTCA - Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
DTP - Direct to Pharmacy/Direct to Public
EA - Environment Agency
EAMS - Early Access to Medicines Scheme
ECMC - Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network
EFPIA - European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
EGA - European Generic Medicines Association
EHR - Electronic Health Record
EMA - European Medicines Agency
EMC - Electronic Medicines Compendium
EMG - European Medicines Group
EMIG - Ethical Medicines Industry Group
EMR - Electronic Medical Record
EPR - Electronic Patient Record
EPSRC - Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
ERG - Evidence Review Groups
ESRC - Economic and Social Research Council
EuropaBio - European Association for Bioindustries
FAD - Final Appraisal Determination
FDA - Food & Drug Administration (The US licensing authority)
FH - Foundation Hospital
FIH - First in Human (regarding clinical studies)
FIM - First in Man (regarding clinical studies)
FMD - Falsified Medicines Directive
FOI - Freedom of Information
FPM - Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
GAVI - Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation
GCP - Good Clinical Practice
GDG - Guideline Development Group
GDP - Good Distribution Practice
GIRP - European Association of the Pharmaceutical Full-Line Wholesalers
GLP - Good Laboratory Practice
GMC - General Medical Council
GMP - Good Manufacturing Practice
GMS - General Medical Services
GPC - General Practitioners Committee (part of the BMA)
GPhC - General Pharmaceutical Council
GVP - Good Vigilance (pharmacovigilance) Practice
HCP - Healthcare Professional
HEAT targets - Health Improvement, Efficiency, Access and Treatment
HES - Hospital Episode Statistics
HFEA - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
HiS - Healthcare Improvement Scotland
HPA - Health Protection Agency
HRA - Health Research Authority
HRG - Healthcare Resource Group
HRSS - Health Research Support Service
HSC - Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland)
HSCB - Health and Social Care Board (Northern Ireland)
HSCIC - Health and Social Care Information Centre
HSE - Health Survey for England/Health and Safety Executive
HTA - Health Technology Assessment
HTA - Human Tissue Authority
IAPO - International Association of Patients’ Organisations
ICD-10 - International Classification of Diseases
ICER - Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio
ICH - International Conference on Harmonisation
IFPMA - International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations
IP - Intellectual Property
IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation
JCVI - Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
JPG - Japanese Pharmaceutical Group
JPMA - Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
JV - Joint Venture
LCGs - Local Commissioning Groups (Northern Ireland)
LCNDG - London Cancer New Drugs Group
LCRN - Local Clinical Research Network
LEPs - Local Enterprise Partnerships
LES - Local Enhanced Service (part of Quality & Outcomes Framework)
LHB - Local Health Board (Wales)
LNDG - London New Drugs Group
LPC - Local Pharmaceutical Committee
LSIDB - Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board
LSIO - Life Science Investment Organisation
LSUK - Life Sciences UK
LTCAS - Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland
M&TC - Medicines and Therapeutics Committee (Wales)
MA - Marketing Authorisation
MAA - Marketing Authorisation Application
MAG - Medicines Access Group
MAPPs - Medicines Adaptive Pathways to Patients
MDT - Multi-Disciplinary Team
MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
MISG - Ministerial Industry Strategy Group
MMF - Medicines Management Forum (N. Ireland)
MMIT - Medicines Management Information Team (N. Ireland)
MMPB - Medicines Management Programme Board (Wales)
MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella combined vaccine
MMTSG - Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group
MPIG - Medicines, Pharmacy and Industry Group
MRC - Medical Research Council
NAB - National Advisory Board (Wales)
NAO - National Audit Office
NAPC - National Association of Primary Care
NC3Rs - National Centre for the Reduction, Refinement and Replacement of Animals in Research
NCAS - National Clinical Assessment Service
NCASP - National Clinical Audit Support Programme
NCDG - New Cardiovascular Drugs Group (Wales)
NCRI - National Cancer Research Institute
NDA - National Diabetes Audit
NDA - New Drug Application
NDC - New Drugs Committee/National Drug Code
NDG - National Delivery Group (Wales)
NES - NHS Education for Scotland
NHS - National Health Service
NHS IC - NHS Information Centre
NHS LA - NHS Litigation Authority
NHS QIS - NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (Scotland)
NHS Scotland - National Health Service in Scotland
NHSBT - NHS Blood and Transplant
NHSC - National Horizon Scanning Centre
NHSCB - NHS Commissioning Board
NHSE - NHS England
NHSFT - NHS Foundation Trust
NICaN - Northern Ireland Cancer Network
NICE - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NIHR - National Institute for Health Research
NIHR CRN - National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network
NIII - National Institute for Innovation and Improvement
NISCHR - National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (Wales)
NLIAH - National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (Wales)
NMG - New Medicines Group
NOCRI - National Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure
NPA - National Pharmacy Association
NPC - National Prescribing Centre
NPSA - National Patient Safety Agency
NRES - National Research Ethics Service
NRS - NHS Research Scotland
NRS Permissions CC - NHS Research Scotland Permissions Coordinating Centre
NSCG - National Specialised Commissioning Group
NSF - National Service Framework
NTA - National Treatment Agency
ODIG - Orphan Diseases Industry Group
OECD - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OFT - Office of Fair Trading
OHE - Office of Health Economics
OLS - Office for Life Sciences
ONS - Office for National Statistics
OSCHR - Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research
OTC - Over-the-counter (medicines)
PACT - Prescription Analysis and Cost Tabulation
PAGB - Proprietary Association of Great Britain
PALS - Patient Advice and Liaison Service
PAPIG - Patient and Public Involvement Group
PAS - Patient Access Scheme
PASAG - Patient Access Scheme Assessment Group (Scotland)
PASLU - Patient Access Schemes Liaison Unit
PBC - Practice-Based Commissioning
PbR - Payment by Results
PCA - Prescription Cost Analysis
PCC - Patient and Client Council (Northern Ireland)
PCP - Primary Care Partnerships (Northern Ireland)
PCT - Primary Care Trust
PFA - Priorities For Action (Northern Ireland)
PHA - Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland)
PHE - Public Health England
PhRMA - Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
PIE - Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
PIL - Patient Information Leaflet
PISB - Pharmaceutical Industry Sector Board
PMCPA - Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority
POM - Prescription Only Medicine
PPRS - Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
PSNC - Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
PSP - Patient Support Programme
PSU - Prescribing Support Unit
PSUR - Periodic Safety Update Report
PV - Pharmacovigilance
QALY - Quality-adjusted life year
QIPP - Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention
QMAS - Quality Management Analysis System
QOF - Quality Outcomes Framework
QOL - Quality of Life
QS - Quality Standards
R&D - Research & Development
RCGP - Royal College of General Practitioners
RCN - Royal College of Nursing
RCO - Royal College Ophthalmologists
RCOG - Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
RCP - Royal College of Physicians
RCPCH - Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
RCS - Royal College of Surgeons
RCUK - Research Councils UK
REACH - European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
RMP - Risk Management Plan
RPS - Royal Pharmaceutical Society
RSM - Royal Society of Medicine
SAIL - Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank (Wales)
SCG - Specialised Commissioning Group
SHIP - ScottisH Informatics Programme (Scotland)
SHTG - Scottish Health Technologies Group
SIGN - Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (Scotland)
SLA - Service Level Agreement
SMC - Scottish Medicines Consortium (HTA body in Scotland)
SME - Small and Medium Enterprise
SmPC/SPC - Summary of medicinal Product Characteristics SPC Supplementary Protection Certificate
SPC - Supplementary Protection Certificate
STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
SUSAR - Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction
TAR - Technology Assessment Report
TEG - Topic Expert Group
TRIPs - Agreement on Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Policy rights
TRP - Translational Research Partnership
TSB - Technology Strategy Board
TTC - Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre (Cardiff)
UKCRC - UK Clinical Research Collaboration
UKCRN - UK Clinical Research Network
UKMi - UK Medicines Information
UKTI - UK Trade and Investment
UVIG - UK Vaccine Industry Group
VBA - Value-based assessment
VBP - Value-based pricing
WACG - All Wales Cancer Drugs Group (supports the AWMSG)
WDL - Wholesale Dealer’s Licence
WeMeReC - Welsh Medicines Resource Centre
WHO - World Health Organization
WHSSC - Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee
WMIC - Welsh Medicines Information Centre
WMP - Welsh Medicines Partnership
WPAS - Wales Patient Access Scheme
WTO - World Trade Organization
