The Drugs  and Pregnancy project, launched at the beginning of 2008, is a joint project of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Finnish Medicines Agency (FIMEA) and the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). The joint project was preceded by a pilot study in 2003-2007.

Its goal is to secure safe medical drug use during pregnancy

The aim of the project is to determine the following aspects of drug use during pregnancy:

• Its extent and quantity
• Its effects on the progress of pregnancy and newborn health
• Its effects on the prevalence of major malformations

Implementation

The project data are based on information obtained from national health registers:

• Medical Birth Register (THL)
• Register on Induced Abortions (THL)
• Register of Congenital Malformations (THL) 
• Prescription Register (Kela)
• Special Refund Entitlement Register (Kela)