Malaysia's Switch to ICD-11: A Closer Look at Data Impact

Malaysia has recently adopted the International Statistical Classification of Diseases 11th Version, or ICD-11, which is a big deal for the way the country collects and uses health data. This new system gives a much clearer picture of how diseases affect people in Malaysia. ICD-11 is a global standard that helps health professionals worldwide understand and communicate about diseases in the same way. With this new system in place, Malaysia can track health issues more accurately. This means they can see which problems are most common and how they change over time. One of the biggest changes is that ICD-11 includes plenty of new diseases and conditions that weren't in the older versions. This helps doctors and researchers keep up with the latest discoveries in health science. Additionally, it makes it easier to compare health data from different places and times. But there are some challenges, too. Switching systems can be tricky, and it takes time for everyone to get used to the new way of doing things. Also, ICD-11 is more complex than the older versions, which means it can be harder for some people to understand. Still, the benefits are worth it. With better data, Malaysia can make more informed decisions about healthcare. They can figure out where to focus their efforts and resources to improve the health of their people.