We need to understand how global market forces undermine healthcare

We need to understand how global market forces undermine healthcare

Author: The BMJ August 7, 2026 Duration: 43:16
This week we focus on the external forces that shape medicine and healthcare.  Global health is changing, after the reduction in financing from wealthy nations, the global community are beginning to implement reforms to improve the situation. However, any change will be unsuccessful until we tackle the fundamental structures that govern outcomes, argue Daniel Bernal-Serrano and Omar Gabriel Torres Valencia from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. They join us to explain how economic forces, wealth distribution, and market dynamics undermine health outcomes. We also learn about the rapid rise in private equity financing of healthcare in the UK, and the dangers that poses to healthcare quality. Bernd Rechel is a researcher at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and explains how different countries are handling this drive for healthcare profit extraction.   Reading list: Private equity involvement in UK healthcare Reforming global health architecture requires confronting its political economy

Produced by The BMJ, this weekly audio series delves into the pivotal research and urgent clinical debates shaping modern medicine. Each episode moves beyond the published page, bringing together the authors, critics, and practitioners directly involved to dissect a new study or a pressing health question. The conversation is rigorous and nuanced, designed for those who appreciate the complexity behind headlines. You’ll hear unscripted discussion about methodology, implications for practice, and the occasional healthy disagreement that drives science forward. This isn't just a summary of the latest findings; it's a critical appraisal in real time, offering listeners a front-row seat to the evolving discourse that defines evidence-based care. The Medicine and Science from The BMJ podcast serves as an essential audio companion for clinicians, academics, and anyone keen to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind medical news. It transforms the latest evidence from the journal into an accessible, thought-provoking dialogue, ensuring that busy professionals can stay deeply informed. Tune in for a direct, intelligent, and often surprising take on the science that matters most.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 50

Medicine and Science from The BMJ
Podcast Episodes
Now is a golden opportunity to change primary care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
The next few months might be an inflection point for GPs in England and Wales Our strong primary care system is often credited in the success of the NHS - But changes to how that system works are currently underway. Legi…
When medical exams go wrong, & CTE in the NFL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:26
In this week’s podcast we’ll be hearing a lot about exams - the bane of many doctor’s training lives, exams that determine your future are scattered through medicine and can cause a huge amount of anxiety and stress… Joh…
AI in healthcare - getting it right, and stopping it going wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:29
This week we’re focusing on how healthcare is using AI systems. The NHS is firmly set on a course of AI integration, with NHS England committing £10 billion of taxpayer funds to the cause over the next three years. The p…
New analysis on Bipolar treatment, and vaccines for malaria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:33
Bipolar disorder affects almost 40 million people worldwide, but finding the right treatment is complex, and nearly half of patients struggle to follow their prescribed treatment plans. In the first part of this episode,…
Are doctors afraid of death? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:48
In this week's podcast - the Sensitivity of Patient Questionnaires: If you've ever asked a patient to fill out a Patient Health Questionnaire (like the PHQ-9) to assess their mental health and wondered exactly how much o…
Is Burnham's 'Manchesterism' the fix for health & social care? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:43
Known for his use of devolved powers, during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham now has the opportunity to bring his local blueprint to the national stage. But what does this mean for the future of h…
Hands off our data: the need for sovereignty in a connected world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:42
Who actually owns our health data once it is stored in the cloud? And how do we balance the global push for open medical research with the need to protect local populations from data extraction? Kamran Abbasi sits down w…