The potential usefulness of an intermittent ladder curriculum for educating health professionals in the Middle East and Africa was evaluated. Intermittent education would allow students to complete a lower educational qualification abroad and then enter the job market at home for some years before continuing with additional, higher education abroad. This approach might help prevent students from remaining in the educational host country and thus would combat brain drain from developing to developed countries. Thirty-two questionnaires were returned from ministries of education and health, university officials, students, and a health consultant. The majority of respondents felt that the most useful periods for students to return home would be either between the bachelor's and the master's degree or between the master's and the doctoral degree. Twenty-nine respondents felt that intermittent education would help combat brain drain. Nine brief case studies are presented of students who have undertaken intermittent education while preparing for advancement in the medical laboratory field in a developing country. The questionnaire is appended. (SW)