ICHI
The new interventions
classification for every
health system
Now available for comment
International Classification
of Health Interventions
ICHI is the World Health Organization’s
new classification for reporting and analyzing
health interventions.
ICHI is the companion ICHI is designed for use at
classification to the all levels of health systems.
International Classification As an international standard
of Diseases (ICD) and the it enables comparison of
International Classification of data between countries and
Functioning, Disability and services.
Health (ICF).
ICHI can be used directly
The classification provides for data collection or as
Member States, service a base for developing
providers, managers, national classifications.
and researchers with a ICHI provides a common
common tool for reporting structure to which codes
and analyzing health in national classifications
interventions for statistical, can be mapped to compile
quality and reimbursement international data.
purposes.
Comprehensive rehabilitation, allied health,
content mental health, nursing and
public health interventions.
ICHI is a classification
describing what health ICHI contains more than
systems do. ICHI uses 7,000 interventions. Further
three axes to describe detail such as medical or
interventions: Target, Action assistive products can be
and Means. It is profession added using extension
and setting neutral. codes.
ICHI describes Intervention codes may
the health system be used to describe
interventions and packages
ICHI includes medical, of interventions delivered
surgical, primary care, to individuals, groups, or
community health, populations.
A RANGE
OF USES
Countries with no
classification of health
interventions
ICHI can be used directly
as a tool for collecting
information on what is being
provided at the various
levels of a country’s health
system.
Countries currently
using ICD-9-CM
Volume 3
The U.S. interventions
classification ICD-9-CM
Volume 3 has been used by
many countries. It will not be Countries with existing Countries wishing to
maintained in the future. national classifications develop their national
A subset of ICHI is classification
Mapping to ICHI codes will
available to replace enable comparison of data As opportunities arise, ICHI
ICD-9-CM Volume 3. between countries and provides a common base
services. for national classification
Adding ICHI material to redevelopment.
national classifications
Countries may extend their
national classifications by A health interventions classification
incorporating ICHI’s broader
range of interventions.
is essential health information
infrastructure to support the running
of a health system
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
GOALS
The United Nations General
Assembly adopted the
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) in 2015.
As an international standard,
ICHI can be used to track
progress towards achievement
of health-related SDGs.
Universal Health
Coverage
Universal Health Coverage
(UHC) is a major WHO
priority. ICHI can be used
to describe essential health
interventions that must
be available to all people,
such as ante-natal care,
measles vaccination, and
hypertension treatment.
Patient safety Health system
and quality performance
The three WHO ICHI can be used to report
classifications ICD, ICF on performance parameters
and ICHI can be used such as:
together to capture data on - surgery waiting times
patient safety and quality. - frequency of specific
ICHI codes are available to interventions
describe both interventions - clinical pathways.
implicated in adverse
events and interventions Public health
delivered to remedy adverse ICHI will provide a basis
outcomes. for collecting, reporting
and analysing data on
population-level health
promotion and disease
prevention efforts.
NOW AVAILABLE
The latest ICHI version is now available
and free to view online:
https://mitel.dimi.uniud.it/ichi/
Comments on the classification are welcome through the
online platform. (To provide comments, click ‘Sign in’ and
create a free registered user account.)
International Classification
of Health Interventions
Creative Commons “Medical/Surgical Operative Photography” by Phalinn Ooi, “Peacekeeping – AMISOM” by UN Photo/Tobin Jones and “Amputees” by Marco Dormino
licensed under CC BY 2.0. All other photos used courtesy of ShutterStock.
