The present invention relates to a method for preparing a drug-eluting implantable or insertable medical device comprising the steps of (i) providing a implantable or insertable medical device having a surface, (ii) depositing at least two oppositely charged polyelectrolyte layers on at least a portion of said surface to form a polyelectrolyte multilayer on the surface, and (iii) depositing one or more layers of particulate pharmaceutically active ingredient within said polyelectrolyte multilayer or on top of said polyelectrolyte multilayer. The invention also pertains to a drug-eluting implantable or insertable medical device obtained by such a method and the medical uses of such devices.