standardizationwho

Standardizationwho is not a widely recognized term in standardization literature. It is sometimes used informally to refer to standardization practices associated with the World Health Organization (WHO) or to the broader effort of standardizing health information and public‑health processes in international contexts.

In this sense, standardization in relation to the WHO would involve developing and harmonizing norms, classifications, data formats, and guidelines to enable consistent reporting, coordination, and comparison across countries and health systems.

Key areas include health data interoperability, terminology and classification systems for disease and health conditions, laboratory results, and vaccine records, as well as guidelines, policy frameworks, and regulatory instruments that govern health programs.

Governance and process: standards are typically developed through international collaboration among member states, technical committees, subject‑matter experts, and the WHO. They undergo drafts, public consultations, pilot testing, and field validation before adoption as normative instruments.

Relationship to other bodies: while the WHO issues guidelines and recommendations, formal standards often draw on ISO, HL7, SNOMED CT, and related standardization ecosystems, with the WHO seeking harmonization where appropriate.

Impact and challenges: achieving global applicability while respecting local context, data privacy, and resource constraints can be difficult. Critics warn against over‑standardization that could stifle innovation or overlook unique health-system needs.

See also: standardization, World Health Organization, International Organization for Standardization, health informatics, data standardization, ICD.