title: [Quality and health care reform in Latin America and the Caribbean].
abstract: Improving the quality of basic health services, together with the search for equity, efficiency, sustainability, and social participation, has been one of the guiding principles of health sector reform initiatives ever since the I Summit of the Americas was held in 1994. This article addresses some basic concepts, examines the status of quality control within health systems and services in Latin America and the Caribbean, and analyzes the most important trends observed in the Region in the establishment of quality assurance programs. Finally, ways of improving and monitoring quality continuously and sustainable are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Organización de Sistemas, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA. rossanna@paho.org
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zeballos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Infante
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D005544:Forecasting; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D007391:International Cooperation; D007843:Latin America; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends