Medical products, appliances and equipment (COFOG-A 071)

A1C.134.

Medical products, appliances and equipment (COFOG-A 071) consists of government expenditure on medical products, appliances and equipment. This category covers expenditure on medicaments, prostheses, medical appliances and equipment and other health related products obtained by individuals or households, either with or without a prescription, usually from dispensing chemists, pharmacists or medical equipment suppliers. These items are intended for consumption or use outside a health facility or institution. Such products supplied directly to outpatients by medical, dental and paramedical practitioners or to in-patients by hospitals and the like are included in COFOG-A 072 or COFOG-A 073.

A1C.135.

Medical products, appliances and equipment (COFOG-A 071) is further classified into:

• pharmaceutical products (COFOG-A 0711);
• other medical products (COFOG-A 0712); and
• therapeutic appliances and equipment (COFOG-A 0713).

A1C.136.

Pharmaceutical products (COFOG-A 0711) consists of:

• the provision of pharmaceutical products such as medicinal preparations, medicinal drugs, patent medicines, serums and vaccines, vitamins and minerals, cod liver oil and halibut liver oil, oral contraceptives; and
• the administration, operation or support of the provision of pharmaceutical products.

A1C.137.

Other medical products (COFOG-A 0712) consists of:

• the provision of medical products such as clinical thermometers, adhesive and non-adhesive bandages, hypodermic syringes, first aid kits, hot water bottles and ice bags, medical hosiery items such as elasticated stockings and kneepads, pregnancy tests, condoms and other mechanical contraceptive devices; and
• the administration, operation or support of the provision of prescribed other medical products.

A1C.138.

Therapeutic appliances and equipment (COFOG-A 0713) consists of:

• the provision of therapeutic appliances and equipment such as corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses, hearing aids, glass eyes, artificial limbs and other prosthetic devices, orthopaedic braces and supports, orthopaedic footwear, surgical belts, trusses and supports, neck braces, medical massage equipment and health lamps, powered and unpowered wheelchairs and invalid carriages, 'special' beds, crutches, electronic and other devices for monitoring blood pressure, etc.; and
• the administration, operation or support of the provision of prescribed therapeutic appliances and equipment.

Includes: Dentures but not fitting costs; repair of therapeutic appliances and equipment.

Excludes: Hire of therapeutic equipment (classified to paramedical services (COFOG-A 0724)); denture fitting costs (classified to dental services (COFOG-A 0723)); prostheses used in operations (classified to general hospital services (COFOG-A 0731) or specialised hospital services (COFOG-A 0732)).