[Does the lack of availability of information represent a bottleneck for research and evaluation in health policy?].

Objectives: This article describes the difficulties encountered in obtaining information about health services, sanitation and health insurance coverage supply, use and coverage regarding a sample of Colombian municipalities during 1991-2000. The availability of information is also analysed in terms of decentralisation and municipal development.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study of a random stratified sample of 495 Colombian municipalities; information regarding the variables of interest was requested at municipal and departmental level and from national sources.