Hypertension is a world-wide public health problem. High blood pressure control efforts have been and are being implemented in order to reduce this burden of unnecessary death and morbidity in most societies. Standard methods of assessment will be developed for the measurement of the goals and strategies of hypertension control in populations; and establishing the means for international comparisons of results. The products of the Working Party are expected to become an international guide and resource for the establishment and assessment of hypertension control.