, an Irish general practitioner who later became the Minister for Health, proposed to the English publisher Alf Morgan the idea of a compact, user-friendly medical guide which was to become MIMS – the Monthly Index of Medical Specialities. Since drug names in Ireland were somewhat different from those in the UK, Alf Morgan and John O'Connell both set up their own version of the guide in their respective country: MIMS in the UK and MIMS Ireland in the Republic of Ireland. The MIMS concept was subsequently taken up by a number of other English speaking countriesaround the world who set up their own versions of MIMS.
Editorial content
The core of MIMS Ireland consists of entries of medicinal products available in the Republic of Ireland. These include a concise summary of main prescribing information such as indications, dosage, contraindications, interactions, special-warnings and side effects as well as information about pack size and price. MIMS Ireland also works in collaboration with the Irish Sports Council to provide guidance on the use of each drug in sport. In addition, MIMS Ireland contains a preliminary section which each month includes:
Extended monographs of new products that have become available in the current month
New Clinical Evidence
A Clinical Special
A monthly update on safety issues provided to MIMS Ireland by the Irish Authority for Pharmacovigilance reporting
A summary of the World Anti-Doping Agency Code provided to MIMS Ireland by the Irish Sports Council
Though MIMS Ireland is supported by advertisement and educational grants from the pharmaceutical industry, it is an independently written publication with strict editorial policy and content left at the discretion of the editor.
Supplements
For a number of years, a number of supplements have been published alongside MIMS Ireland to guide healthcare professionals in specific areas including:
An Oncology Reference published every May which contains prescribing information and guidelines on neoplastic disorders and severe pain as well as a listing of other hospital products such as anaesthetics, muscle relaxants, premedications, dressings and appliances
A Diabetes Reference published every November which contains type-1 and type-2 diabetes prescribing information and guidelines
A Cardiovascular Reference is now also published in March, listing all cardiovascular drugs such as anti-hypertensive drugs or drugs indicated for the prevention of myocardial infarction and strokes, as well as highlighting new guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology.
Yearbook
Every year since 2009, MIMS Ireland has been publishing a Yearbook containing a selection of Clinical Specials featured in MIMS Ireland during the past year, including recent clinical updates, reference tables or guidelines focusing on various therapeutic areas.
Newsletter
A monthly electronic newsletter service, the MIMS Ireland e-Newsletter, was launched in March 2010.
