The field of program, services and technology evaluation in general, and in health care in particular, is going through an important growth and conceptual and methodological diversification. It is also the object of an increasing demand for its participation as an effective supportive instrument in the decision-making process, and a constant need in the dynamics of health systems and services. In this paper, based on literature review, nuclear criteria involved in the organization of all evaluation processes are identified, and articulated with the existing institutionalized evaluation practices in developed countries, that is, program evaluation, quality assessment and management and technology assessment. In conclusion, the incipient development of a methodological evaluation output in Brazil is analyzed.
Evaluation; Quality assurance, health care; Program evaluation; Health services; Health services research; Evaluation of health technologies; Health plans and programmes
