ISO 6028:2023

Overview - ISO 6028:2023 (Healthcare organization management - Pandemic response)

ISO 6028:2023 specifies functional requirements for a self-initiated disease self-symptom checker app designed to support early screening and control of pandemics (for example, COVID-19). The standard describes the app as a frontline digital tool enabling individuals to record and report pandemic-related symptoms, locate screening stations, and access health consultation channels. It is intended to guide development, deployment and integration of symptom-checker applications used by healthcare organizations, public health authorities and private-sector operators.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Four core functional components are defined:
  • Self-registration - user onboarding and credential validation; includes alert configuration, optional GPS activation, camera access for ID capture, and handling registration errors.
  • Symptom checking - capture and reporting of asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, defined error states, and associated data elements for screening workflows.
  • Guidance on screening stations - locate and display nearby screening/test sites using GPS or other positioning services; functionality for contacting sites.
  • Health consultation - channels to connect users with health experts (chatbot, messaging, email) and application update handling.
• External services & data flows - the app is central to optional integrations: health authorities (subject to user consent and local privacy laws) can receive aggregated or individual demographic/symptom data to trigger follow-up actions (e.g., testing, quarantine).
• Operational considerations included:
  • Data elements and error management for each component.
  • Termination of app use procedures.
  • Annex A (informative) provides quality considerations and references ISO/TS 82304-2 for additional health software guidance.
• No normative references are required by the document.

Practical applications and target users

• Practical uses:
  • Border and points-of-entry health screening to reduce importation of infection.
  • Workplace and campus screening programs to monitor and isolate potential cases early.
  • Community-level self-monitoring to reduce burden on health services and speed triage.
  • Integration with national public-health surveillance to support contact tracing and targeted testing.
• Who should use ISO 6028:2023:
  • Mobile and web app developers building pandemic symptom-checker tools.
  • Healthcare organizations and public health authorities procuring or deploying screening apps.
  • IT architects and system integrators responsible for privacy-aware data exchange with health systems.
  • Regulators, quality assurance teams and procurement officers evaluating functional compliance.

Related standards

• ISO/TS 82304-2 (health and wellness apps) is referenced in Annex A for additional quality and safety considerations when developing self-symptom checker apps.

Keywords: ISO 6028:2023, self-symptom checker app, pandemic response, symptom checking, self-registration, GPS screening stations, health consultation, healthcare organization management, COVID-19, functional requirements.