Hundreds of ISO International Standards for all aspects of healthcare help to implement the aims of World Health Day 2007, 7 April, of which this year's theme is on international health security, urging governments, organizations and business to "Invest in health, build a safer future".

World Health Day is an occasion for raising awareness of key global health issues. The date of 7 April is chosen because it marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is a partner in 57 of the ISO technical bodies that develop ISO standards. Out of the total of more than 16,500 International Standards so far published by ISO, there are over 700 standards and related documents for aspects of health care.

The February 2007 issue of ISO Focus magazine highlighted ISO's work in the field of health care information technology (HIT) to develop standards facilitating the implementation and worldwide diffusion of innovative initiatives such as electronic health records (HER) and digitized health care services (e-Health).

However, ISO standardization related to health care goes far beyond HIT. Standards for various aspects of healthcare are developed by the following ISO Technical Committees.

• ISO/TC 48, Laboratory equipment.
• ISO/TC 76, Transfusion, infusion and injection equipment for medical and pharmaceutical use.
• ISO/TC 84, Devices for administration of medicinal products and intravascular catheters.
• ISO/TC 106, Dentistry.
• ISO/TC 121, Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment.
• ISO/TC 150, Implants for surgery.
• ISO/TC 157, Mechanical contraceptives.
• ISO/TC 168, Prosthetics and orthotics.
• ISO/TC 170, Surgical instruments.
• ISO/TC 173, Assistive products for persons with disability.
• ISO/TC 194, Biological evaluation of medical devices.
• ISO/TC 198, Sterilization of health care products.
• ISO/TC 210, Quality management and corresponding general aspects for medical devices.
• ISO/TC 212, Clinical laboratory testing and in vitro diagnostic test systems.
• ISO/TC 215, Health informatics.