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MIMS Supported ResourcesFrequently Asked Questions
Answers to common queries to help you use and access MIMS.
Please also see our guide to MIMS for pharmaceutical companies.
General MIMS queries
MIMS editorial process
Definitions in MIMS
Navigating MIMS
Submitting information to MIMS
Accessing MIMS
MIMS delivery issues
Obtaining single issues of MIMS
MIMS education and events
General MIMS queries
What is MIMS?
| MIMS, or the Monthly Index of Medical Specialities, is the essential prescribing reference for general practice. MIMS has been providing healthcare professionals with information on prescription medicines since 1959. |
What is included in MIMS?
| MIMS provides concise summaries of prescribing information for branded and generic products that can be prescribed in the UK, including devices listed in parts IXA and IXR of the Drug Tariff. Drugs that are blacklisted (ie, not prescribable on the NHS) are not listed and no information is given on the unlicensed or off-label use of drugs. |
| The print edition of MIMS also includes a selection of the popular drug reference tables. The full range of tables and drug listings are available online at mims.co.uk , together with at-a-glance summaries of national treatment guidance, visual guides to diabetes and respiratory devices, a drug shortages tracker, and prescribing resource centres for specific disease areas. |
What formats is MIMS available in?
| MIMS is available online at mims.co.uk and as a quarterly print issue. |
How often is MIMS updated?
| MIMS is one of the most up-to-date prescribing references for healthcare professionals. |
| Online, mims.co.uk is updated constantly, with changes to the drug information and prescribing news published throughout each working day. |
| In print, MIMS is published every quarter, in March, June, September and December. Each quarterly print edition includes all the updates from the corresponding three months of online updates. |
How can I receive prescribing updates from MIMS?
MIMS offers three bulletins to help you keep abreast of important developments in medicines and prescribing:
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MIMS editorial process
How is the product information in MIMS put together?
| Each MIMS product monograph is compiled by our team of pharmacists based on the approved licence information. The monograph is an expert abbreviation of the full summary of product characteristics (SPC) which readers can refer to in full at www.medicines.org.uk |
Do pharmaceutical companies have any influence over MIMS content?
| MIMS is not influenced by marketing information from pharmaceutical companies and all products are included at the discretion of the editorial team. Coverage of new products and other prescribing news is decided solely by the editorial team. |
Definitions in MIMS
What do the legal class categories in MIMS mean?
| P - pharmacy-only medicine A product that may only be sold in a registered pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. |
| POM - prescription-only medicine A product that may only be sold or supplied to the public on a practitioner's prescription. |
| GSL - general sales list A product that may be sold from a retail outlet without the supervision of a registered pharmacist. |
| CD - controlled drug A product that is controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and is listed in schedule 2 or 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 as amended, which may be subject to specific restrictions relating to supply, prescription, storage, record-keeping, labelling and destruction. |
| ACBS - Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances A product (eg, gluten-free bread) that may be prescribed for the treatment of certain conditions. Prescriptions for these products must be endorsed 'ACBS'. |
| NC (no legal class) A product that may be classed as a device or appliance. |
Do prices in MIMS include VAT?
| MIMS provides NHS list prices, which exclude VAT and are not appropriate to quote to patients for private prescriptions or over-the-counter sales. |
To what age range do 'child' doses in MIMS apply?
| Children are not defined by any particular age range in MIMS; the doses and age ranges given are all taken from the approved prescribing information. |
How is renal impairment defined in MIMS?
| Renal function is reported in MIMS as either creatinine clearance (CrCl) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), depending on how it is presented in the drug's SPC. Creatinine clearance can be calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation and is based on the patient's serum creatinine, age, gender and weight; it is given in ml/min. eGFR is usually calculated using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula, which is based on serum creatinine, age, gender and race. It is normalised to a body surface area of 1.73m 2 , and thus given in ml/min/1.73m 2 . |
Where can I find a list of the abbreviations used in MIMS?
| A list of the abbreviations used in MIMS can be found below and at the front of every print issue.
BPH – benign prostatic hyperplasia |
Navigating MIMS
Why can't I find cancer drugs in the print edition of MIMS?
| Because of space constraints in the print edition of MIMS, some products (including cancer drugs and nutritional products) are listed online only. For some products that are included in the print edition, readers may be referred to mims.co.uk for the full MIMS listings. |
Where can I find the MIMS visual guides to diabetes and respiratory devices?
| For space reasons, the MIMS visual guides are no longer included in the print edition of MIMS. MIMS registered users and subscribers can access the visual guides online . |
Submitting information to MIMS
How do I submit a new product or a product update for inclusion in MIMS?
| Please submit details of the new product via our online portal and the editorial team will evaluate it for inclusion in MIMS. Please note the deadline for inclusion in a particular quarterly print issue is generally the last working day of the month two months before (ie, for the March issue - around 31st January; June issue - around 30th April; September issue - around 31st July; December issue - around 31st October). The earlier submissions are received the more likely we can guarantee inclusion in a particular issue. |
Is there a charge for listing products in MIMS?
- Listing in MIMS is solely at the editorial team's discretion and carries no charge.
How can I provide feedback or ideas for MIMS?
| The MIMS editorial team welcomes suggestions from GPs and other users about how we can best support prescribing in primary care. Please email mims@haymarket.com . |
Accessing MIMS
What is the difference between a registered user and a subscriber?
| Registered users can only see a limited number of articles on MIMS. Subscribers have full access to MIMS online. Both registered users and subscribers can sign up to our MIMS bulletins by logging into their account and selecting the ones they'd like to receive. |
Why can I no longer access MIMS?
| We've introduced an annual subscription to MIMS to help us continue to be your go-to prescribing tool. A susbcription guarantees you 12 months of full access, providing you with expert summaries of prescribing information alongside a range of other quick-reference prescribing aids including our exclusive drug shortages tracker and ever-increasing number of drug comparison tables.
For full access to MIMS you can purchase an annual subscription online. |
How can I access MIMS?
| For full access to MIMS you can purchase an annual subscription online. For multi-user subscriptions please email Emma Broderick. |
How can I receive print copies of MIMS?
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GPs working in the UK and based in an NHS practice can request free quarterly print copies of MIMS by completing our online registration form .
Other users can receive quarterly print copies of MIMS by purchasing an annual subscription online. |
How can I obtain MIMS access for multiple users?
| We offer a variety of corporate subscriptions tailored to your business needs, whether online licences or multi-user print and online subscriptions. If you would like access for 5 or more users at your company we can offer substantial discounts on subscription rates. Contact Emma Broderick at emma.broderick@haymarket.com . |
I'm having difficulty logging in to MIMS, who do I contact?
| If you are experiencing difficulties trying to login or register on our website please send us an email at support@gponline.com including your full name, profession, GMC/NMC number (if applicable), and preferred email address. |
MIMS delivery issues
How do I change my delivery address for MIMS?
| If you are a GP, you can update your address by signing into your online profile . If you do not have an online profile, you can set one up . If you are a subscriber, please email help@shop.haymarket.com . |
Why haven't I received the latest issue of MIMS?
| The print edition of MIMS is usually distributed in the middle of March, June, September and December. Delivery may occasionally be delayed by postal issues. If you haven't received your copy by the end of the month, please contact medicalcirculation@haymarket.com (if you are a GP) or help@shop.haymarket.com (if you are a subscriber). |
Are previous issues of MIMS available to purchase?
| We regret we are unable to send out old editions of MIMS as these contain out-of-date prescribing information. If you have a specific query or information requirement, please email mims@haymarket.com and we may be able to assist you. |
MIMS education and events
How can MIMS help me fulfil my CPD requirements?
| MIMS offers several opportunities to help GPs meet their appraisal and revalidation requirements. MIMS Learning Live is an established clinical conference providing high-quality education designed to meet GPs’ specific learning needs, worth at least 5.5 hours CPD per event. MIMS Learning is an educational website for GPs offering over 400 learning activities on a wide variety of clinical topics, along with pre-prepared learning plans and an integrated CPD organiser. |
I've received information about a MIMS clinical education event - how can I find out more?
| Our popular and highly regarded MIMS clinical conferences, including MIMS Learning Live , are tailored specifically to GPs' needs. Engaging expert speakers focus on issues highly relevant to general practice, to help you tackle the clinical challenges you face every day. Attendance can make a valuable contribution to your CPD requirements. Contact medical@haymarket.com for more information. |