[Regionalization]

Health services regionalization is analyzed in its concept, components, characteristics and variations through literature review of experiences in different countries. It is concluded that regionalization means ordering or reordering resources and services within an area, provided that physical installations and personnel are already organized in order to assure health services at the highest quality. Those services must be economical, accesible and established in a comprehensive, coherent set with different levels of care in order to meet patients' needs. A regionalization model based on silos is presented, including functions, strategies and policies. Reasons to encourage the regionalization are also presented, such as the decrease in costs, increasing of program effectiveness and the potential development of the regionalized areas.