The WHO Family of International Classifications

Abstract

The concept of the Family of International Classifications has been created to have a common framework and language to report, compile, use, and compare health information at the national and international level. The family brings together different health classifications dealing with various dimensions of health and health care so as to present a more comprehensive picture of health care. The family of classifications in health consists of reference classifications, derived ones and related ones. The reference classifications cover the areas of death and disease, disability and health interventions. Other members cover fields like drugs, causes of injury and reasons for encounter. These classifications represent the building blocks of health information in order to be able to provide the best possible health to all people.