Glossary
ICD-11
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The International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision — the diagnostic-code standard used in Section 21 applications.
The International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) is the World Health Organization's diagnostic-code standard, in force since January 2022 as the successor to ICD-10. It provides a structured alphanumeric code for every recognised diagnosis, used internationally for clinical records, mortality statistics, and regulatory submissions.
**Why it matters in cannabinoid prescribing** — every Section 21 application to SAHPRA includes the patient's ICD-11-coded diagnosis. The code makes the indication unambiguous (e.g. MG30.01 for chronic widespread pain rather than an ambiguous "fibromyalgia" label), supports the clinical rationale for the requested product, and helps SAHPRA categorise applications for monitoring purposes. Doctors prescribing cannabinoids should be familiar with the relevant ICD-11 codes for their indication area; this is a routine part of file preparation, not a barrier.
South African medical-aid claims are gradually transitioning from ICD-10 to ICD-11; both code-sets are in use in different scheme contexts at present.