Why Should Developing Nations Implement ICD-11 for Morbidity Coding?

Abstract

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO), is the global standard for morbidity and mortality coding. The 2022 release of ICD-11 brought improvements such as enhanced clinical detail, user-friendly technology, and multilingual support, offering a significant upgrade from ICD-10. Developing countries often face challenges with ICD-10, including limited morbidity data capture and the high costs of adopting other country-specific modifications. ICD-11 addresses these issues with features like postcoordination, extension codes, and electronic coding tools, which enhance coding accuracy, reduce training costs, and improve interoperability. Pilot studies in Kuwait, China, and Malaysia have demonstrated ICD-11’s successful implementation, showing improved coding accuracy, better clinical documentation, and high user satisfaction. Key enablers of success include tailored training, multidisciplinary collaboration, and IT infrastructure readiness, though challenges remain with DRG integration and infrastructure gaps. ICD-11’s support for both morbidity and mortality coding, its freely available mapping tools, and its multilingual capabilities improve the international comparability of health data. These findings highlight ICD-11’s potential to transform health information systems in developing countries, enhancing data quality and supporting evidence-based policymaking. Strategic investments in technology, effective change management, and stakeholder engagement are essential for successful implementation.