The purpose of the study was to obtain possible insights into the substantive or procedural facets associated with the proposed development in the United States of intermediate health professionals (defined as personnel involved in diagnosis and treatment of disease through direct patient contact who have had less than the professional education of the physician but more than that of the nurse). The authors examined the status of programs in the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union by holding discussions with officials in selected health facilities of these countries. Midwifery and coronary intensive care were studied in the United Kingdom and feldshers and feldsherism in the Soviet Union. It was concluded that neither of the countries provides programmatic or regulatory models that can be applied directly to the development and utilization of intermediate health professionals or medical auxiliaries in the United States. However, selected elements of the medical care systems in the countries studied do provide guidance for regulatory revision. The paper includes an introduction which states the case for the development of intermediate health professionals followed by reports of the findings in each of the two countries studied and conclusions based upon the findings. (JK)