Randomised clinical trials are the preferred tool to assess the effectiveness of new treatment strategies and to compare the effectiveness of existing techniques. Since it is virtually impossible to complete studies with the required sample sizes in a single centre or even a few centres, from 2003 onwards 70 Dutch hospitals have since joined forces in the initiation and execution of large clinical studies. The consortia address pragmatic questions in the fields of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive medicine. The construction of a common infrastructure for ethical approval, recruitment of patients, data management and analysis is central to this collaboration. Research nurses and midwives play a key role in the recruitment of participants and the collection of data. In this article we consider if in view of the results obtained, funding from government and insurance companies and the participation of health care providers can continue to be as liberal as it has been up to now.