A quality improvement approach to capacity building in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: To describe the HEALTHQUAL framework consisting of the following three components: performance measurement, quality improvement and the quality management program, representing an adaptive approach to building capacity in national quality management programs in low and middle-income countries.

Design: We present a case study from Namibia illustrating how this approach is adapted to country context.

Methods: HEALTHQUAL partners with Ministries of Health to build knowledge and expertise in modern improvement methods, including data collection, analysis and reporting, process analysis and the use of data to implement quality improvement projects that aim to improve systems and processes of care.