Background: Health services planning must consider aspects of demand and aspects of supply. Additionally, social aspects must be taken into account. We aim to identify ways of increasing scientific support and evidence based practice in the process of planning.

Method: 1. Research questions were defined. 2. A literature search was performed and (3.) publications were selected. 4. The methods were described and (5.) steps in planning compared. 6. Essential steps and the potential for using an evidence based approach to planning were discussed.
Results: we selected 5 models for further analysis:
- „Health Care Needs Assessment“
- „Community health needs assessment for health service planning“
- „Community Health Assessment and Action Planning“
- „Population needs-based health-care resource allocation and planning“, as well as
- „Österreichische Strukturplan Gesundheit“
The comparative analysis also highlighted ways of intensifying the use of evidence and evidence based practice.

Discussion: Planning steps should be transparent. By using the core elements of planning and by acting evidence based, one can analyse one’s own planning.

Recommendations: We recommend evidence based planning. Health Technology Assessment may be applied in identifying objective need (by assessing net benefit) and may be of used in other aspects of planning.