WHO's European member states look at quality assurance. Report on the technical discussions at the thirty-eighth session of the Regional Committee for Europe.

This paper is the report on the technical discussions on "Quality assurance of health services" at the 38th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, one of the activities aiming at achieving WHO's regional health for all target 31, which requests WHO's Member States to establish a quality assurance mechanism. Attended by national health authorities and experts in quality assurance, the technical discussions identified the European context for developing quality assurance and looked at national initiatives. Having agreed that the question is no more, "Is there a need for quality assurance of health services?" but, "How can it best be carried out?", the participants identified a range of quality assurance activities at national and international levels, including national strategies and financial incentives, criteria for clinical practice, information systems and coordination and management mechanisms. The report concludes with recommendations for Member States on, for example, inclusion of quality assurance in national health policies, dissemination of information, research on quality assurance, information systems and role of professional organizations.