The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) is a public body of the Ministry of Health that positions itself as a reference for all those who think and operate in the healthcare field. Its main areas of activity are: to guide and develop programmes of Public health, improved healthcare and total clinical and organizational quality management; to coordinate and assure national epidemiological surveillance; to prepare and publish health statistics; to coordinate the Public Health Emergencies System; to regulate and monitor the compliance with safety and quality standards of blood, tissues and organs and to coordinate the European and international relations of the Ministry of Health.