Puerto Rico Mental Health Policy Accountability: A Policy Design Evaluation

Abstract

This article evaluates Puerto Rico mental health system determining the accountability level in the public policies design. The analytical framework on this study addresses specific, binding, public, and autonomous aspects in the informative/justifying and evaluating/sanctioning dimensions of the policies. The evaluation of eight accountability indicators derived from the policies, shows more accountability level in the informative/justifying dimension (76%) than in the evaluating/sanctioning (42%). The analysis is limited to the design stage in the policy-making process, suggesting further research of the implementation stage and the level of compliance accountability in Puerto Rico mental health system.