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The article on the evolution of health services research and health services research and development up to the present. Briefly, health services research (HSR) is in-depth study of the underlying factors and processes of health services. In contrast to biomedical research, which is oriented to the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, HSR is concerned with the organization, staffing, financing, and evaluation of health services. Health Services research and development (HSR & D) is the development of innovative health care systems through the introduction and testing, in real community situations, of experimental changes in interrelated components. The scope and content of HSR have largely been determined by bringing together component elements in meaningful relationship. To a person unfamiliar with the field, some knowledge of its history is essential for understanding the present. Acquiring this knowledge can be an overwhelming task. By the mid-1930s, there was a growing need for comprehensive knowledge not only of facilities and their use, but also of their financing and employment conditions. The research methods being used today are more sophisticated, resulting in narrower lines of inquiry.