A new peer-reviewed study says that midwifery-led care is not a policy option but instead an evidence-based requirement to prevent millions of unnecessary deaths. This week in Lisbon, thousands of midwives will gather to demand action.
11 June 2026, Lisbon, Portugal – Midwives from across the globe are gathering in Lisbon to address a current shortage of nearly 980,000 midwives across 181 countries. Evidence in a recent study shows that by 2030, filling this gap could save up to 4.3 million lives each year, which includes 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of newborn deaths, and 65% of stillbirths.
“This is not a future risk. It is a present reality,” said Anna af Ugglas, Chief Executive of the International Confederation of Midwives. “Nearly one million missing midwives means care becomes rushed and fragmented. This is a quality and safety issue for women and babies.”
The 34th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives opens in Lisbon, with more than 3,000 midwives, policymakers, researchers, and health leaders from over 115 countries. Participants will share research and evidence to support the theme of “The World Needs One Million More Midwives”.
What the Research Shows
A peer-reviewed editorial published in Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare (Elsevier) states that transitioning to midwifery models of care is an evidence-based requirement for protecting women’s and newborns’ lives. This timely piece, authored by Justine Le Lez, Anna af Ugglas, and Malin Bogren, finds that the maternity care systems in many countries remain fragmented, over-medicalised, and disrespectful to the women they serve.
Midwife-led, woman-centred care addresses these challenges directly. Midwifery services improve maternal and newborn outcomes, reduce unnecessary interventions, and increase women’s satisfaction with their health care. However, across regions, midwives report increasing pressure as workforce gaps grow and demand for care rises.
“In many settings, midwives are educated but not employed or enabled to practise fully, leaving women without access to the care they need,” said Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwife of the ICM
The authors call on governments and international institutions to move on four fronts, including sustained political commitment, enabling regulatory frameworks, investment in the midwifery workforce, and genuine engagement with women and communities.
Where the Shortage Hits Hardest
The global midwife shortfall is not evenly distributed across the globe. Africa carries 46% of the global shortage, where nine in ten women do not have access to a midwife. The Americas are missing up to 85% of needed midwives, the Eastern Mediterranean leaves around 69% of midwifery needs unmet, and Europe faces persistent shortages in multiple countries, including well-resourced health systems.
Why Midwives are Essential to Women-centered Care
According to the WHO, midwifery models of care offer skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate care for childbearing women, newborn infants, and families across the continuum throughout pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the early weeks of life. Additionally, midwives are trained to provide up to 90% of essential sexual and reproductive health services in a way that is cost-effective, sustainable, and rights-respecting.
Midwives often feel the impact of external shocks before others, given their position as first-response health workers. Climate events, disease outbreaks, and funding cuts hit maternity care first, and the current shortage means there is a decreased buffer when the next crisis arrives.
“Midwives work at the heart of their communities, so they often see the impact of a crisis before it reaches the wider health system. When climate events, disease outbreaks, conflict or funding cuts disrupt health services, midwives help keep essential care available, trusted and close to home.”
72-Year History of Advancing Midwifery
Since 1954, this unique gathering has brought together midwives, policymakers, researchers, and health leaders to present an evidence base for strengthening the midwife profession across the globe. The congress runs from 14 to 18 June at the Lisbon Congress Centre.
The Congress hosts several significant launches, including the following:
- A global march for One Million Midwives
- The Lancet Series on Postpartum Haemorrhage, by the PPH Action Network
- The Global Professional Association Consortium for SRMNAH
- The Sample Curriculum for Midwifery, a joint UNFPA and ICM publication
- The first Global Competencies for Midwifery Leadership
The 2026 Congress is co-hosted with APEO, the Portuguese Association of Obstetric Nurses.
About the International Confederation of Midwives
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is the global voice for midwives. It represents more than 135 midwives’ associations across over 115 countries. ICM’s vision is a world where every woman, newborn, and adolescent has access to competent midwives’ care, and every midwife is enabled to provide equitable, rights-based health care.
