Provides direction on development of national quality policies and strategies, and supports a structured approach to implementing, monitoring and acting to improve health sector quality.

This Handbook provides direction on the development of a national quality policy and strategy and can be used to comprehensively consider a structured approach to implementing, monitoring and acting to improve health sector quality. The handbook covers both policy and strategy considerations with regards to eight elements with respect to a systemic quality approach. The eight elements include: national health priorities; local definition of quality; stakeholder mapping & engagement; situational analysis; governance and organizational structure; improvement methods & interventions; health management information systems & data systems; quality indicators & core measures.

The Handbook highlights important points for policy-makers within national health agencies (e.g. ministries of health) as they develop national quality-related policies and strategies. It also contains some useful tools that support application of the eight elements.