The need for new and short lists of classifications in health care. A proposed management classification for primary health care services: the 4-P classification.

In this paper we analyse the development of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and other World Health Organizations (WHO) classification families. We identify their limitations in supporting the managerial process of primary care and the supply of relevant information, especially for developing countries and present the alternative of using unified shorter lists in primary care and hospitals that can be adapted to suit the country's needs. The study presents a new comprehensive classification for primary care encounters (4-P Classification), which gathers together, on a single form, information on providers, place of encounter, problem-oriented diagnoses and procedure provided. The proposed classification can be easily coded and collated by health providers, with minimal paperwork; alternatively, a sample of the encounter forms can be collated and analysed at central or regional statistical units, using personal or microcomputers.