A system for systems is required for quality health systems

Abstract Improving quality of health-care requires a systematic approach at many different levels within a health system. The levels range from the interactions between individual patient–health provider to the international stage. The provision of care within and between each level needs to be systematically organised if the quality of our health-care is to improve. There is a need to develop a systematic approach to the multiple systems within health care. An organisational structure similar to the Cochrane Collaboration may provide the mechanism to better co-ordinate all our efforts to improve health-care quality.