Quality Policy Guiding Principles

Every country operates within a historically defined context. It is therefore impossible to provide a universally-applicable template detailing what specifically should be addressed by any given QP. While some quality related components have already been developed, and several documents already exist at sub-regional or national levels, these relate mainly to the development of QI.

The availability of a set of underlying, experience based, key principles allows each country to adapt and tailor these as appropriate for its own specific needs and develop its QP and QI to best address its needs at a particular stage in its development trajectory. The use of best practice principles also provides a standardized approach that encourages the development of a QP which is achievable and relevant to the needs of the country, allows appropriate benchmarking, and promotes participation and buy-in by all relevant stakeholders.

After a comprehensive and considered review of previous national and regional interventions related to QI development throughout the world, five key principles have been identified as the underlying elements for the effective development of a QP. These are Coherence, Ownership, Inclusiveness, Optimization and Sustainability. It is important that each of the five principles are appropriately addressed during the creation and further refinement of each future national and/or regional QP.