SUMMARYHealth professions development is an integral part of national health plans. It is influenced by various factors and should be continuously updated to meet the changing health situation and related disciplines of the country. There are three forms of establishing a health manpower development plan: a market‐oriented form, a goal‐achievement form and a normative form. A combination of all forms is best if carried out by a community‐oriented team of academic health professions and health care providers. Although countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region share many demographic, geographic, and sociocultural characterisitics, there are marked differences in resources, health manpower structure and availability in health services. Health professional development plans should be formulated according to existing situations. Other factors influencing health manpower development in the future include political, social and economic trends, changes in morality and disease patterns, industrialization, availability of health services and academic institutions. Perspectives guiding planning for the development of various categories of health professionals are pres