The Translation into Portuguese of the 11th International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11)

The 11^th International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) represents an advance in the focus on knowledge and new disease approaches. The ICD is used for different practical purposes, enabling assessment of progress in the global health agenda, resource allocation, patient safety, health care qualification, and health insurance reimbursement. It is entirely digital, with technological resources that allow periodic updating. In early 2022, ICD-11 entered into official force, having been made available in several official ICD languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, and English.

This article describes the translation process into Brazilian Portuguese, coordinated by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), with support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MS) and PAHO/WHO. The translation was done in three stages between August 2021 and December 2022 by translators with different backgrounds: medical specialists (49), physiotherapists (1), pharmacologists (1), and dentists (1). This methodological article aims to broaden the discussion of perspectives on implementing the ICD-11 in Brazil and build an opportunity for its adaptation and use by other Portuguese-speaking countries.

Published October 9, 2023

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