ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the structure and operation of the Mexican monitoring and control system for its health programs, known as the National Health Sector Evaluation System. It begins with a description of the special features of the political system in the United Mexican States in order to provide the reader with a basic framework for understanding the National Health System, as well as the process carried out for its monitoring and control. To provide a concrete case and to illustrate the system, the family planning program is chosen for discussion, due to the high priority assigned it for the health policy and social development of the country. For the case of the programs under the National Health Sector Evaluation System control, the measurements applied with greater frequency are related to the inputs, activities, products, efficiency, and efficacy. The chapter concludes the main limitations to the successful operation of the health monitoring system and presents some conclusions about the results achieved.
