This European Standard specifies a procedure for the registration of coding schemes used in health for any purpose. It also specifies the allocation of a unique Health Coding Scheme Designator to each registered coding scheme. A code value can thus be given an unambiguous meaning by association with a HCD.
The method by which a HCD and a code value are associated is not defined by this European Standard. The association is achieved in any manner appropriate to the syntax used.
This European Standard does not specify the coding schemes to be used in health, give guidance on their selection nor describe methods of representing information in coded form.
Coding schemes maintained by different Responsible Organisations may also be used in combinations. Such combinations can be considered as templates, and as such they lie outside the scope of the current document.
