The University of Sydney has hosted a symposium, titled Think Before You Measure, which has addressed the fundamentals of health measurement.

 

The symposium saw Australian and international experts brought together to discuss the basic concepts, definitions and classifications that form the building blocks of understanding of health.

 

"Diseases, functioning and disability, medicines and health interventions are all described using health classifications," says Dr Bedirhan Ustun, coordinator of the World Health Organization work on classifications, terminologies and standards, and a keynote speaker at the symposium.

 

"The World Health Organization leads a worldwide effort to develop and maintain up-to-date classifications across the entire health system in order to provide an international framework which governments, providers and consumers can use as a common language."

 

This system allows for consensus and coordinated responses - for example the H1N1 pandemic was classified the same way across the globe within three days - and most importantly has significant implications for policy development and improved health outcomes worldwide.