The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), created under the auspices of the United Nations, presented an opportunity for political, financial, medical and civil society leaders to focus on the huge disparities in global health provision. MDGs 4 and 5, which focus on child and maternal outcomes respectively, have proved more challenging than others to deliver. There are only 4 years left for these challenges to be realised.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, although principally responsible for UK-based healthcare issues, are aware of their global responsibilities to women's and children's health.

This Study Group was designed to focus on the excellence that these institutions can deliver. The speakers from all four disciplines were selected as outstanding contributors in this area of global health. Midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians and anaesthetists have provided a review that will act as a scholastic resource but also as an immensely useful reference for those involved in advocacy on behalf of women and children.

The RCOG's global network has enabled us to draw examples from countries as diverse as Afghanistan and Egypt. Such illustrations demonstrate the required elements for success.

We hope that this work will prove a useful adjunct to those trying to tackle the issues of delivering MDGs 4 and 5 within the next 4 years.