The nature and quantity of data collected must also be relevant and applicable to decision making at the various levels of the health system. Accurate, representative and timely data are thereby central to the assessment and improvement of the quality of care delivered to the population. The study reviews the Peruvian health infonnation system in terms of how it measures up in delivering the requisite data to meet both national policy purposes and allow international benchmarking in the areas of health care resources, activities, expenditure and quality. The report recommends improvements in data sources and methods to extend coverage and strengthen comparability in the development of international indicators.