The first Five Year Plan (1976/77-1980/81) of the Yemen Arab Republic was designed to overcome the country's delayed social and economic development. Planning for and implementation of health services should consider past experiences and existing knowledge. In view of the numerous bottlenecks and constraints being of social, cultural, historical, political, economic and environmental nature any too ambitious plan should be avoided. Basic Health Services will be the mainstay for the delivery of health services to the rural population on the basis of community participation.