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Context:

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the 2025 edition of the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).

About International Classification of Diseases (ICD)  

It is a World Health Organization (WHO) product that standardizes how health professionals worldwide diagnose, report, and monitor diseases, injuries, and causes of death.

It is a tool that standardizes diagnostic language for health professionals worldwide.

Purpose and Impact

It identifies health trends and statistics at national and global levels, guiding decisions in clinical care, policy, and research.

It accelerates progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing inequalities and national targets.

It influences health insurance claims, as insurers depend on them to process claims .

Uses of ICD

Clinical Documentation: Codes clinical terms for recording diseases in primary, secondary, and tertiary care, as well as on death certificates .

Epidemiology: Provides critical data on disease extent, causes, and consequences worldwide .

Policy Making: Shapes societal views on health, influencing how people seek care and how providers respond .

ICD-11 Updates (2025 Edition)

• Digital Innovation:
  • • Advanced natural language processing (NLP) and API-based coding improve interoperability and reduce data-entry errors .
    • FHIR API integration enables real-time data exchange, making coding faster and less disruptive to patient care .
• Multilingual Access: Available in 14 languages, with ongoing expansion to boost global accessibility .
• Traditional Medicine Module: Includes conditions from Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems, enabling systematic tracking for research and policymaking .
• Error Reduction: Enhanced spelling correction and language variation recognition minimize data-entry mistakes .

Must Read Articles: 

INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES

DISEASES AND ITS TYPES

Source: 

WHO