World Health Organization

The initial focus was on creating a map between SNOMED CT and  ICD-10 for global use, taking into account the editorial guidance of both products.  The agreement also set out a framework for linking SNOMED CT and ICD-11 so that users who had licenses for both would benefit and over a number of years work was undertaken to develop a methodology for creating this linkage.

As WHO focused on delivering ICD-11 Morbidity and Mortality Statistics (MMS), the collaboration work focused on ensuring alignment between SNOMED CT and ICD-11 MMS to facilitate based on implementation targets set by the World Health Assembly for ICD-11 MMS, with SNOMED International members identifing their first priority to be the production of a map from SNOMED CT to ICD-11 MMS. An initial automated map has been produced by SNOMED International and is currently available for review.

SNOMED International and WHO remain committed to the overall goal of the original arrangement and are working on developing new ways of moving forward providing a linkage between SNOMED CT and ICD-11. 

In 2024, WHO and SNOMED International began exploring a joint sustainable framework to link ICD-11 and SNOMED CT. The collaboration aims to facilitate a seamless data conversion and linkages for users of both ICD-11 and SNOMED CT towards a robust and interoperable health data ecosystem. This will enable the usability of health information across diverse applications, improving data consistency and usability for the software industry; data brokers; clinical, statistical and epidemiological research; and reimbursement purposes.

Press Release:

• October 2024: WHO explores collaboration with SNOMED International for linkage between ICD-11 and SNOMED CT