3.12 Drug and Product Identification Numbers

General Policy Description

Health Canada assigns a Drug Identification Number (DIN) to all drug products.

If Health Canada has not assigned a DIN for a product, PharmaCare assigns a product identification number (PIN) that allows claims for the product to be adjudicated by PharmaNet.

When Health Canada issues a licence for a natural health product, after assessing it and finding it to be safe, effective and of high quality under the recommended conditions of use they assign the product an eight-digit Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM), which can be found on the label.

PharmaCare must assign a PIN for compounded medications, investigational drugs, natural health products that have not been assigned an NPN, and non‑pharmaceuticals such as glucose monitors and test strips, prosthetics, orthotics, and ostomy supplies.

Policy Details

Pharmacists and medical device providers must use the appropriate PIN where required by PharmaCare product coverage policies.

Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) results are not returned for claims using PINs.

Procedures

Identifying a PIN

Product Identification Numbers (PINs) are used when no DIN is assigned to a product.

PharmaCare publishes the PINs for various categories of products on its website. Find PINs and related PharmaCare policy and procedures for these products:

• Publicly funded vaccines
• Opioid agonist treatment
• Compounded prescription products
• Nicotine replacement therapy products and smoking cessation prescription drugs
• Cystic fibrosis products
• Diabetes items:
  • continuous glucose monitors
  • flash glucose monitors
  • blood glucose test strips
  • insulin pumps
  • insulin pump supplies
  • needles and syringes
• Miscellaneous products
• Ostomy supplies
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Allergy serums

Refer to Product Identification Numbers (PINs) for a full list of PINs.

>> Need help determining the correct PIN? Call the PharmaNet Help Desk.