title: Towards developing a national health information standards framework for South Africa.
abstract: An outline is given of the development of a health information standards framework for South Africa. The main emphasis has been in the development of data standards including coding schemes. Choices for diagnostic, procedure, and reason for encounter codes are given as well as options for personal identifiers, telemedicine, and pharmaceutical codes and messaging standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and National Health Information System Committee, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bourne
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hanmer
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Heavens
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000592:standards; D016490:Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems / Q000592:standards*; D007391:International Cooperation; D013019:South Africa; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014944:World Health Organization