Health systems are facing an increasing number of challenges, while governments remain dedicated to searching for cost-effective options to enhance the capacity of national health systems to perform well. Within the context of limited financial resources, rising health care costs, increasing health demands and heightened public expectations, nursing and midwifery services provide a platform from which to scale up health interventions to assist in meeting national health targets. A variety of problems, however, continue to undermine the contribution of nursing and midwifery services. (AU)