The proceedings of the Regional Institute of Higher Education and Development's seminar on higher education's commitment to the basic health needs of society are recorded. The first part of the seminar contains the official opening and several addresses that focus on basic health care in Southeast Asia. Part II, "Contributions of Higher Education in Meeting Basic Health Needs in Rural Areas: Problems and Prospects," contains four papers examining strategies and contributions that higher education can make to basic health care in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Part III, "Delivery of Primary Health Care in Urban Areas: Role of Tertiary Instruction," focuses on diarrheal disease in urban areas, as well as provides case studies on Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Part IV,"University Curriculum in Health-Related Disciplines: An Evaluation," focuses on the development of useful curricula concentrating in the same geographic areas as in the preceding sections. Part V, "Towards the Development of Basic Health Needs-Oriented Curriculum and Programmes," examines the need for trained personnel to deliver the programs successfully. In the final section several research proposals and recommendations are submitted by Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Appendices include the program of the seminar and a list of all participants and observers. (LC)