The aim of planning human resources for health is to secure that the right mix of skills with the desired orientation is available in the right place and that this is achieved with minimum waste. Training in management, supportive supervision, communication and team-work and inspirational leadership are all essential to the effectiveness and efficiency of health services. The original intention was not to build a large hospital but to use existing general hospitals and local health centres and dispensaries as a model for the national health system. Planning the health professions, the mix of different grades, and where those who have been trained will practise are all critical for health service planning. If this is all left to market forces, any health system will become inequitable, unnecessarily expensive and unresponsive to health priorities.