NordClass has a long history as a designated collaborating center with the Family of International Classifications in WHO (WHO-FIC CC). The current period of WHO-designation is for 2024-2028. The member countries in NordClass are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
Goal and activities
NordClass works to promote the understanding of Nordic and international classifications in health. The main focus of work is the ICD-11 classification for diagnoses, the most important reference classification of WHO, together with ICF and ICHI.
The goal of NordClass is to inform the Nordic governments about the development of health and health-related classifications and terminologies used for health information management and statistical data in the member countries. NordClass collaborate with WHO to promote correct use of concepts, content, terminology, and rules for reference.
NordClass organizes its activities in a yearly revised workplan in accordance with WHO terms of reference for WHO-FIC collaborating centres. As a WHO-CC work is performed by participation in WHO-FIC work groups, reference groups and committees.
In parallel, NordClass facilitates collaboration on Nordic issues related to health classifications, that often coincide with the interests of WHO. Currently, the NordClass Board has put down a Nordic ICD-11 Task Force addressing questions and potential coordination of Nordic understanding and use of ICD-11. NordClass also collaborates with actors using the collected codes, like for example the Nordic Casemix Centre and NOMESCO (Nordic Medico-Statistical Committee), for reimbursement and health data, respectively. In addition, NordClass performs regular mortality coding comparisons between Canada, and the Baltic, and the Nordic countries.
Organization
The Centre is an independent body with its own budget and board. The board members are appointed by the following national health authorities in the Nordic member countries:
- The National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden
- The Danish Health Data Authority
- The National Centre for eHealth in the Icelandic Directorate of Health
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
- The Norwegian Directorate of Health
Each body has their own representative in the NordClass Board, which is currently chaired by Dr. Magdalena Fresk (Sweden).
The secretariat of NordClass is administered by the Code Systems Department in the Norwegian Directorate of Health, located in Oslo, Norway under the Ministry of Health and Care Services. Solveig Fredriksen serves as coordinator, and Dr. Marie Vikdal as Head of Centre.
The Head of the Centre reports on activities to the Board, and the work in NordClass is performed by affiliated experts mainly provided by the governmental departments/units on classification and statistics in all the Nordic countries.
NordClass is financed through yearly grants funded by the national health authorities in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Collaboration and financing are regulated by agreements between The Norwegian Directorate of Health and each of the member countries.
Contact
Solveig Fredriksen
Coordinator
Email: Solveig.Fredriksen@helsedir.no
Phone: +47 93 02 15 85
Marie Vikdal
Head of Centre
Email: marie.vikdal@helsedir.no
Phone: +47 97 15 82 16
Postal address
Nordic WHO-FIC Collaborating Centre (NordClass)
Code Systems Department
Norwegian Directorate of Health
PB-220, Skøyen
0213 Oslo
Norway
Visiting address
Vitaminveien 4
0483 Oslo
Norway
More information: Classifications (who.int)