FAQ
You may consult our knowledge base, submit questions or suggestions via SPINCO's helpdesk or by email to unicat@msf.org
SPINCO will review submissions to establish upcoming releases of unicat.
Signing in with a valid MSF O365 account will enable features such as the creation & sharing of PDF files and personal lists, and it will also unlock MSF-restricted information such as:
- MSF-restricted medical information in descriptions (e.g. Advice for local purchase)
- MSF-restricted documents
- Medical attributes such as GMDN, In vitro info, 2nd/3rd choice
- Weight, volume and average prices of an article
- Manufacturer reference and brand of an article
Unicat contains all active articles in the field (i.e. Valid, Outdated, Discontinued articles from UniData). Non-standard medical articles will be added soon. Medical Local Codes are gradually being introduced. Log Local Codes are not included.
Unicat contents is updated daily from UniData.
You may type any article code, former code, or word of the article label in the search box. Unicat will suggest to best matches but you may also see all results by pressing enter.
Within search results, you may also use the elements of the left side panel to filter on e.g. categories, validations, standardization, subscriptions, or medical metadata.
Articles need to be subscribed to by your OC. Here are the contact persons for (log) subscriptions:
The indicative price range is based on 3 years historical information gathered by the 3 ESC's. It is not a commitment from the ESC on that price. The purpose of that indicative price is to help you to build a budget and estimate order values. Exact price information is provided in the actual ordering process.
This information is not available as stock data are changing too fast, there are multiple versions for some items and prices can be different from one supplier to another.
You need to check with your OC procedure if you can place an order on an article and where you can place an order.
Depending on your Mission and OC, the procedure can be specific to your context and the article concerned.
Unicat allows you to create your own personal lists after signing in with your MSF account. Just click on the "plus" icon to create new list and/or add an article to your list.
Such personal lists can be shared with other users; these users will see all your updates. You may share a list in read-only mode, or in collaboration mode, meaning that other users will be able to modify it.
These lists can also be exported to Excel, with available article pictures, label and codes, as well as quantities and comments you've added.
Lists that you have created or that were shared with you can be exported to Excel, with article picture, label and code, as well as quantities and comments you've added.
Also, kit composition lists of articles can be exported using the 'X' button on the article page.
| 0208 | Cold Chain / Refrigerated 2-8°C |
| 1525 | Controlled Room Temperature 15-25°C |
| CT25 | Controlled Temperature 2-25°C |
| CT30 | Controlled Temperature 2-30°C |
| F-20 | Frozen <-20°C |
| FSRT | Frozen for Storage, Refrigerated for Transport |
| Mix/check | Article with components that need different cold chain storage conditions |
| CT3+ |
Temperature Monitoring 2-40°C |
| A | This kind of article need a more detailed description of the context in which it will be used. |
| C | The article is potentially subject to important modifications (supply sources, better alternatives). |
| E | The article is expensive and its choice should be justified in relation to cheaper alternatives. |
| F | Monitor the use, efficacy for at least one year after the introduction of new drugs |
| M | The article may imply medical risks if misused by persons with insufficient training or knowledge. |
| ME | The article may imply medical risks if misused by persons with insufficient training, Expensive. |
| MF | The article may imply medical risks if misused + Monitor the use, efficacy at least one year |
| P | The article must be used only in a properly designed programme. |
| PA | Article must be used only in a properly designed programme, need a more detailed description. |
| PCME | Article only for a properly designed Programme, it may imply a Medical risk if misused, Expensive. |
| PE | Article must be used only in a properly designed programme, Expensive, cheaper alternatives exist. |
| PF | The article must be used only in a properly designed programme + monitor the use, efficacy |
| PM | Article must be used only in a properly designed programme, it may imply a medical risk if misused. |
| PME | Article only for a properly designed Programme, it may imply a Medical risk if misused, Expensive. |
| PMF | Article must be used only in a properly designed programme, it may imply a medical risk if misused. Monitor the use, efficacy for at least one year after the introduction of new drugs |
| PMFE | Article must be used only in a properly designed programme, it may imply a medical risk if misused. Monitor the use, efficacy for at least one year after the introduction of new drugs. Expensive item |
| PMS | Second choice. Article must only be used if the first choice is not available or cannot be used in a specific context. Article must be used only in a properly designed programme, it may imply a medical risk if misused. |
| S | Second choice. Article must only be used if the first choice is not available or cannot be used in a specific context |
| SM | Second choice & medical risk. Article must be only used if the first choice is not available or cannot be used in a specific context. The article may imply medical risks if misused by persons with insufficient training or knowledge. (SM) |
| SP | Second Choice & specific programme. The article must only be used if the first choice is not available or cannot be used in a specific context. The article must be used only in a properly designed programme. |
| UN1044 | Fire extinguishers containing compressed or liquefied gas |
| UN1090 | Acetone |
| UN1133 | Flammable Liquid |
| UN1170 | Ethanol solution |
| UN1188 | Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether |
| UN1198 | Formaldehyde solution, flammable |
| UN1202 | Gas oil |
| UN1203 | Gasoline |
| UN1219 | Propanol - Class 3 - Packaging group II |
| UN1223 | Kerosene |
| UN1230 | Methanol |
Public lists or subcatalogues can be published on unicat by data stewards. Such article lists are defined by data stewards in UniData.
There are 2 sample subcatalogues on the home page: Covid–19 and Toyota Landcruiser tools but this isn't a system limitation.
You may use them to browse through the selected articles, or to construct your own personal lists (that can also be shared or downloaded).
The subscription on an article, for an OC or an ESC, indicates that the information of this article will flow to their downstream systems, be it the OC's order tool or the ESC's database.
Validation will indicate that an Operational Center has approved the Article for field use in a specific context. At this stage, mainly medical articles are validated by OCs.
Yes, but you will not be able to sign in and create lists of articles. You will be able to access lists created by MSF users and shared with you.
Also, some sensitive information will not be available to you.
Please check our support portal
Yes, you can use it as a link or even in an iFrame! Links are formatted as follows, with the unique MSF identifier: https://www.unicat.msf.org/cat/product/msfid
For iFrames, just add "?embed=true" after the article URL in order to hide the menu bar and the footer.
Unicat is a lightweight & responsive web site and there are currently no plans to move to an offline product.
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