If I may be allowed to play the medicinal plants farmer, the opening days of our Consultation were seeding time. Our discussions could be compared to weeding and fertilizing time. We have now reached the critical harvesting time and I am happy to announce that we have a bumper crop.

We have looked at our subject from many aspects. We have shared experiences as well as ideas as to where to go from here. We need now to summarize our discussions to capture the essence of what has gone on during the past days and to provide a framework for future activities.

I have been asked to look at the future from an international perspective with a view to identifying areas for collaboration. From the beginning, I must underscore the fact that international involvement cannot be separated from what is going on in the countries themselves. On the contrary, its whole ‘raison d'etre’ lies in the needs identified at national level.

Furthermore, it is only by interacting with and supporting national programmes as well as by clearly defining objectives and priorities for action that we can learn how best these needs can be met. So, I will include in my framework the main components of a national plan of action. Beginning with these, I shall outline the linkages that must be forged at both national and international levels.

The primary health care approach, amongst other things, calls for increased intersectoral planning, programming and delivery and for a common approach in solving the problems of health as part of general socioeconomic development. It also emphasizes the need to make maximum use of all available resources.