Introduction of ICD-11 in Germany: Seizing opportunities together

With the new ICD-11 developed by the WHO and translated into German for use in Germany by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the German healthcare system is facing a change that is more than a simple change of a medical coding system. The ICD-11 modernises the coding system, for example, by including new, separate health conditions such as sleep-wake disorders and conditions related to sexual health, thus making the corresponding diseases more visible. The ICD-11 is more precise than the ICD-10: it allows cross-referencing between diagnoses, symptoms, functionality and locations and partially abandons the strict hierarchy of the ICD-10. In addition, a greater number of rare diseases are represented with their own specific code than was previously possible with ICD-10. Finally, the ICD-11 is also significantly more "modern" than the ICD-10 (which dates back to pre-digital times) in that it enables new, digitally-supported processes, such as keywords flexibility and sustainability when updating the system as well as actual coding at the point of care. The switch to ICD-11 can be a great opportunity for the German healthcare system that should not be missed. It will benefit health service research, which at best will be able to work with much more detailed and correct data sets. But medical care will also benefit because the ICD-11 reflects current medical knowledge. In addition, certain illnesses will be removed from the psychiatric category, meaning that those affected will no longer be stigmatised by their classification in the ICD. The improved coding of diagnoses will ultimately also support guideline-based treatments. However, the changeover is only the first step. The challenges - also for health service research - include in particular the latency of introduction and uniform use as well as the necessary change in coding habits. For ICD-11 to be a success in Germany, authorities, the medical profession, payers and patients must work together on strategies to ensure not only a rapid but also a comprehensive implementation that maximises the potential of ICD-11.