The report provides descriptive profiles of the current and past supply of health manpower and projections. It also describes the methodology and techniques used to derive the profiles and projections, and provides interpretations and evaluations of the adequacy and comparability of existing statistics, with descriptions of the more conspicuous gaps in the current health manpower information system. The health manpower occupations covered are: physicians, medical specialists (M.D.'s), dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, podiatrists, veterinarians, registered nurses, and allied health occupations. The report, prepared by different groups of specialists, represents the output of the first phase of Project SOAR (Supply, Output, and Requirements), a multiphased systematic analysis of the nation's health manpower situation today and in the future. Part 1 provides an overview of the concepts, methodology, assumptions underlying the estimates and projections, and presents summary highlights of the study in tabular and narrative form. Part 2 presents detailed statistical material on the current manpower profile and projected supply in specific health fields. Appendixes include detailed projection tables presenting information on an individual year basis as well as other relevant information not shown separately in individual chapters. (Author/MW)