The conference sought to discuss, in the broadest terms, what the definition, function, purpose and relationship of primary health care should be in the future. The conference was held within the context of 'Health for All by the Year 2000' as resolved by the World Health Assembly in 1977. One of the aims was to look at how the principles of the Alma Ata could be applied. The conference itself was launched on a European level to discover how primary health care was seen in the European Region of the World Health Organization.