The "Health Systems in Transition" (HiT) profiles are country-based reports that provide a detailed description of a health system and of reform and policy initiatives in progress or under development in a specific country. Each profile is produced by country experts in collaboration with an international editor. In order to facilitate comparisons between countries, the profiles are based on a template, which is revised periodically. The template provides detailed guidelines and specific questions, definitions and examples needed to compile a profile. The HiT profiles can be used to inform policy-makers about experiences in other countries which may be relevant to their own national situation. They can also be used to inform comparative analysis of health systems.