The QICH programme has learned from and built on international example, including quality measurement initiatives such as the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set(HEDIS) of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in the United States (some QICH indicators are based on HEDIS definitions). As the programme is not mandated, its success is attributable to the voluntary involvement of the health funds in the conception and design of the project from the start, their active participation in the indicator development process, and the consensus developed around a scientifically robust quality measurement programme. The QICH project is an exemplar of the practical implementation of a systematised, ongoing scheme for monitoring and improving the quality of primary care, based on scientific research and guidelines.