Medication Prescription and Dispense (MPD)
1.0.0-comment-3 - ballot

Medication Prescription and Dispense (MPD), published by Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE). This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 1.0.0-comment-3 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/IHE/pharm-mpd/tree/111/merge and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

## Extension: MedicationCharacteristic - Detailed Descriptions

Active as of 2026-04-22

Definitions for the ihe-ext-medication-characteristic extension.

- Key Elements Table
- Differential Elements Table
- Snapshot Elements Table

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be foundhere

0. Extension
Definition | Any characteristic of the medicinal product prescribed or dispensed (for example, price, textual package description, special program information, etc) Optional Extension Element - found in all resources.
Short | Medication - CharacteristicOptional Extensions Element
Control | 0..*
Is Modifier | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
2. Extension.extension
Definition | An Extension May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and managable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Short | ExtensionAdditional content defined by implementations
Comments | There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Control | 10..*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Alternate Names | extensions, user content
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
4. Extension.extension:type
Slice Name | type
Definition | An Extension
Short | Code specifying the type of characteristic of medicationAdditional content defined by implementations
Control | 10..1*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
6. Extension.extension:type.extension
Definition | An Extension May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and managable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Short | ExtensionAdditional content defined by implementations
Comments | There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Control | 0..0*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Alternate Names | extensions, user content
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
8. Extension.extension:type.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `type`
10. Extension.extension:type.value[x]
Definition | Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Value of extension
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ext-1
Binding | For example codes, see For codes, see MedicationKnowledgeCharacteristicCodes (example to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/medicationknowledge-characteristic` )
Type | CodeableConcept, date, Meta, Address, Attachment, integer, Count, DataRequirement, Dosage, uuid, Identifier, RatioRange, Coding, SampledData, id, positiveInt, Distance, Availability, integer64, Period, Duration, canonical, Range, RelatedArtifact, base64Binary, UsageContext, Timing, decimal, ExtendedContactDetail, ParameterDefinition, dateTime, code, string, oid, instant, ContactPoint, HumanName, Money, markdown, Ratio, Age, Reference, TriggerDefinition, Quantity, uri, url, Annotation, ContactDetail, boolean, Expression, CodeableReference, Signature, unsignedInt, time
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
12. Extension.extension:value
Slice Name | value
Definition | An Extension
Short | Descriptive value of the characteristicAdditional content defined by implementations
Control | 0..1*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
14. Extension.extension:value.extension
Definition | An Extension May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and managable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Short | ExtensionAdditional content defined by implementations
Comments | There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Control | 0..0*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Alternate Names | extensions, user content
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
16. Extension.extension:value.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `value`
18. Extension.extension:value.value[x]
Definition | Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Value of extension
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ext-1
Type | Choice of: boolean, dateTime, decimal, integer, string, CodeableConcept, Quantity, Ratio, date, Meta, Address, Attachment, Count, DataRequirement, Dosage, uuid, Identifier, RatioRange, Coding, SampledData, id, positiveInt, Distance, Availability, integer64, Period, Duration, canonical, Range, RelatedArtifact, base64Binary, UsageContext, Timing, ExtendedContactDetail, ParameterDefinition, code, oid, instant, ContactPoint, HumanName, Money, markdown, Age, Reference, TriggerDefinition, uri, url, Annotation, ContactDetail, Expression, CodeableReference, Signature, unsignedInt, time
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
20. Extension.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `https://profiles.ihe.net/PHARM/MPD/StructureDefinition/ihe-ext-medication-characteristic`
22. Extension.value[x]
Definition | Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Value of extension
Control | 0..01 This element is affected by the following invariants: ext-1
Type | Choice of: base64Binary, boolean, canonical, code, date, dateTime, decimal, id, instant, integer, integer64, markdown, oid, positiveInt, string, time, unsignedInt, uri, url, uuid, Address, Age, Annotation, Attachment, CodeableConcept, CodeableReference, Coding, ContactPoint, Count, Distance, Duration, HumanName, Identifier, Money, Period, Quantity, Range, Ratio, RatioRange, Reference, SampledData, Signature, Timing, ContactDetail, DataRequirement, Expression, ParameterDefinition, RelatedArtifact, TriggerDefinition, UsageContext, Availability, ExtendedContactDetail, Dosage, Meta
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be foundhere

0. Extension
Definition | Any characteristic of the medicinal product prescribed or dispensed (for example, price, textual package description, special program information, etc)
Short | Medication - Characteristic
2. Extension.extension
Control | 1..?
4. Extension.extension:type
Slice Name | type
Short | Code specifying the type of characteristic of medication
Control | 1..1
6. Extension.extension:type.extension
Control | 0..0
8. Extension.extension:type.url
Fixed Value | `type`
10. Extension.extension:type.value[x]
Binding | For example codes, see MedicationKnowledgeCharacteristicCodes (example to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/medicationknowledge-characteristic` )
Type | CodeableConcept
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
12. Extension.extension:value
Slice Name | value
Short | Descriptive value of the characteristic
Control | 0..1
14. Extension.extension:value.extension
Control | 0..0
16. Extension.extension:value.url
Fixed Value | `value`
18. Extension.extension:value.value[x]
Type | Choice of: boolean, dateTime, decimal, integer, string, CodeableConcept, Quantity, Ratio
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
20. Extension.url
Fixed Value | `https://profiles.ihe.net/PHARM/MPD/StructureDefinition/ihe-ext-medication-characteristic`
22. Extension.value[x]
Control | 0..0

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be foundhere

0. Extension
Definition | Any characteristic of the medicinal product prescribed or dispensed (for example, price, textual package description, special program information, etc)
Short | Medication - Characteristic
Control | 0..*
Is Modifier | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
2. Extension.id
Definition | Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short | Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Type | id
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
4. Extension.extension
Definition | An Extension
Short | Extension
Control | 1..*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
6. Extension.extension:type
Slice Name | type
Definition | An Extension
Short | Code specifying the type of characteristic of medication
Control | 1..1
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
8. Extension.extension:type.id
Definition | Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short | Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Type | id
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
10. Extension.extension:type.extension
Definition | An Extension
Short | Extension
Control | 0..0
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
12. Extension.extension:type.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `type`
14. Extension.extension:type.value[x]
Definition | Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Value of extension
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ext-1
Binding | For example codes, see MedicationKnowledgeCharacteristicCodes (example to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/medicationknowledge-characteristic` )
Type | CodeableConcept
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
16. Extension.extension:value
Slice Name | value
Definition | An Extension
Short | Descriptive value of the characteristic
Control | 0..1
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
18. Extension.extension:value.id
Definition | Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short | Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Type | id
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
20. Extension.extension:value.extension
Definition | An Extension
Short | Extension
Control | 0..0
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (`extension.exists() != value.exists()`)
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
22. Extension.extension:value.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `value`
24. Extension.extension:value.value[x]
Definition | Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Value of extension
Control | 0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ext-1
Type | Choice of: boolean, dateTime, decimal, integer, string, CodeableConcept, Quantity, Ratio
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
26. Extension.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `https://profiles.ihe.net/PHARM/MPD/StructureDefinition/ihe-ext-medication-characteristic`
28. Extension.value[x]
Definition | Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Value of extension
Control | 0..0 This element is affected by the following invariants: ext-1
Type | Choice of: base64Binary, boolean, canonical, code, date, dateTime, decimal, id, instant, integer, integer64, markdown, oid, positiveInt, string, time, unsignedInt, uri, url, uuid, Address, Age, Annotation, Attachment, CodeableConcept, CodeableReference, Coding, ContactPoint, Count, Distance, Duration, HumanName, Identifier, Money, Period, Quantity, Range, Ratio, RatioRange, Reference, SampledData, Signature, Timing, ContactDetail, DataRequirement, Expression, ParameterDefinition, RelatedArtifact, TriggerDefinition, UsageContext, Availability, ExtendedContactDetail, Dosage, Meta
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)