[A framework for health surveillance decentralization].

No consensus has been reached concerning the definition of criteria and standards for evaluating the decentralization of actions by municipal health surveillance systems. With the aim of developing and validating an objective image for municipal health surveillance that would correspond to an appropriate system for the population's health care needs, a logical framework was elaborated, from which a matrix containing dimensions and criteria for management and practices was obtained. The framework was submitted to an expert group for validation at a consensus conference. Of the 54 criteria, there was consensus for 59.3%, while 53 items (98%) were considered important, thus validating the matrix. In view of the provisory nature of the consensuses, the resulting instrument, which can be used either in its entirety or in part, enables modification and adaptation. The authors discuss the potential of the evaluation strategy adopted here, which allows various possibilities for redefining the criteria and renewing the consensus.