ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on where we stand in the implementation of a national health planning program and discusses our most serious challenges and problems. To assure coordinated State level planning, an agency of State government, chosen by the Governor, is designated to serve as the State Health Planning and Development Agency. While health planning has a variable ability to influence any one of the factors, and planning agencies are specifically required to concentrate on planning for health services, the agency must consider the array of influences on health. A concentrated campaign for increasing knowledge about the state of the art and practice in health planning and related fields has been underway since the Act was passed. As the health planning agencies grow more effective, and have more impact on the actual allocation of resources, the more important will become the questions of the appropriate auspices and governance of the agencies.
