: Data is typically delivered as compressed ZIP folders containing text (.txt) or CSV files in standardized formats like Release Schedule
When a patient reports an adverse reaction, they might mention a brand name, a generic name, or even a misspelled version of a drug. If every database used a different name for the same drug, identifying safety signals (trends of adverse reactions) would be impossible. The WHO Drug Dictionary solves this by providing a unique code for every medicinal product. This allows regulators to aggregate data from different countries and sources to see the complete safety profile of a drug. download who drug dictionary
The "deep story" of the (now known as WHODrug Global ) is one that began in tragedy and evolved into a cornerstone of global patient safety. The Genesis: From Tragedy to Vigilance : Data is typically delivered as compressed ZIP
GET /api/v1/whodrug/download?version=2025-03&format=json&active_only=true Authorization: Bearer <token> This allows regulators to aggregate data from different
To make this program work, scientists needed a "universal language" for medicines. They needed to ensure that a report of a side effect from "Tylenol" in the U.S. could be instantly linked to reports for "Paracetamol" in the UK or "Dolo" in India. This necessity gave birth to the dictionary—a tool to map thousands of local brand names to their specific active ingredients. How the Dictionary Operates Today
: As of March 2026, it contains over 688,000 unique product names from 175 different countries.