Zimpapers Logo

Shamiso Yikoniko in Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe is planning to introduce the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 technology by early next year as a measure to improve the local healthcare system.

It is now more than 27 years since the World Health Assembly endorsed ICD10, but Zimbabwe has been lagging behind with implementation of the technology. Speaking at the Annual Stakeholders’ Conference on Health organised by Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (Ahfoz) held in Victoria Falls, Health Services Board executive chairman Dr Paulinus Sikhosana said as the country redefined a paradigm going into a new era, it was important that it adopted WHO classification of diseases.

“This will benefit all players in the health ecosystem, including the Government, health service providers and healthcare funders,” he said.

“It will also facilitate the compilation of statistical data for research and resource provision purposes.

“It will help establish disease patterns, causes and effects, which are important for shaping our health policy decisions and identifying disease risk factors.”

ICD10 is the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Problems, a medical classification list by WHO.

It contains codes for diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases.