This article has the objective of assessing the implementation of epidemiological nuclei in seven high complexity hospitals of the public hospital network in Pernambuco, determining the principal problems and difficulties for implementation and start-up. To assess the degree of implementation a score system was designed based on facilities, material and human resources, operating practices, teaching and research activities and nuclei management. The organization of the nuclei and their regulation has been a great institutional landmark, but start-up has been facing many constraints. The current implementation status in the majority of the nuclei is not satisfactory, with marked differences related to the implementation state among the hospitals. Political context expressed by decision makers has in fact impacted the degree of implementation and depending on how supportive the actors, has represented investment related antagonist or synergic forces.
Services evaluation; Hospitals; public; Epidemiology; Quality of health care; Epidemiological surveillance
