AbstractCan Africa, with its predominantly rural economy, achieve the surplus of production that is necessary for the provision of adequate health and social services? Conversely, can the introduction of rationally planned health services contribute to the economic development of the continent? If so, how can health and economic planning be integrated so as to achieve optimum results? These and other related questions are discussed in this article, which has been condensed from Part II, chapter 1, ofAFRO Technical Paper, No 7.