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Health Check

BBC World Service
Covid-19
Malaria
Mental Health
Climate Change
HIV
Public Health
Mpox
World Health Organization
Obesity
Measles
Vaccination
Long Covid
Tuberculosis
Polio
Malnutrition
Depression
Gaza
M-Pox
Dementia
Shingles Vaccine

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes307Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Health & Fitness

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Artwork for Health Check

Latest Episodes

Two Ebola drugs are due to be trialled in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as cases of the disease continue to rise in the country.

BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher joins Claudia Hammond to discuss the new clinical trial, ... more

Many people with infertility use in vitro fertilisation (IVF), however the probability of having a baby following IVF is only approximately 30-40% per cycle and decreases significantly with age. It can be a lengthy and expensive process. Providers so... more

The WHO has conducted their first global assessment of food contamination in over a decade and found that more than 1.5 million people are killed by food poisoning every year. Dr Ann Robinson joins Claudia Hammond to discuss the common causes of food... more

How does reading shape our mind and spirit? Why do novels make us feel more human? In front of a live audience at the Hay Festival of Literature & Arts in Wales in the UK, Claudia Hammond looks at the science of what reading does to the mind and expl... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Claudia Kichiyo Montesinos
Social worker focusing on parks and community health in Valdivia
Valdivia health/community programs
Episode: Lack of evidence most IVF ‘add-ons’ improve fertility
Juan Perez
Local resident in Valdivia
Community member
Episode: Lack of evidence most IVF ‘add-ons’ improve fertility
Ana Villanueva
Local resident in Valdivia
Community member
Episode: Lack of evidence most IVF ‘add-ons’ improve fertility
Pilar Noches
Local resident involved with education initiatives
Episode: Lack of evidence most IVF ‘add-ons’ improve fertility
Ann Robinson
Family doctor providing expert commentary on gout and health topics
NHS/General practice
Episode: The global toll of food poisoning
Nicola Dalbeth
Rheumatologist and professor of medicine, lead researcher on gout studies
University of Auckland
Episode: The global toll of food poisoning
Joanna Kavenna
Award-winning novelist, author of Seven
Episode: How reading fiction impacts our mental health
Ben Alderson-Day
Professor of Psychology at Durham University; lead researcher for ReaderBank
Durham University
Episode: How reading fiction impacts our mental health
Paula Byrne
Novelist, biographer of Jane Austen, co-founder of ReLit; psychotherapist
ReLit; Psychotherapist
Episode: How reading fiction impacts our mental health

Hosts

Claudia Hammond
Host of Health Check
Laura Foster
Host of Health Check; on occasion standing in

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 444 ratings
  • Claudia Hammond is an excellent presenter. I love this show. It covers all new medical research and news from around the world. Each week there's a resident doctor who discusses the topics that come up briefly with Claudia, and they give his/her medical viewpoint.

    Full of facts and up-to-date research/information. Highly recommended

    Podchaser
    5
    Angie
    10 months ago
  • Can’t play any episodes

    No episodes will play, all other pods are working

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    hippobite
    Canadaa year ago
  • Repeats other podcasts

    Too many sections taken from Inside Health. Either keep these podcasts separate or put on same feed.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Tammy, UK
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Annoying presenter bit excellent research

    “I’m Claudia Hammond...” how many times do you need to tell us? Get we just get on with hearing about the interesting research?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Aminha Canela
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Great podcast

    Relevant and very interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caza slim
    United Kingdom7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many praise evidence-based analysis and policy context with on-the-ground reporting.
Listeners appreciate the global health focus and diverse expert guests.
Some note repetition in sections but overall high-quality science communication.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#155
United Kingdom/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#160
Australia/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#175
Ukraine/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#189
Hong Kong/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#192
New Zealand/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#228
Singapore/Health & Fitness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Health at the football World Cup
Q: How will the findings be used in real time?
Briefings and situation reports will be pushed to local, state, and federal health authorities and to FIFA, to help inform health responses and preventive measures as outbreaks or health threats are detected.
Health at the football World Cup
Q: What kinds of data will you be looking at during the World Cup surveillance effort?
A broad mix including wastewater surveillance for pathogens, electronic health records (de-identified), human mobility and travel data, climate data, and social listening to capture on-the-ground experiences and potential outbreaks.
The global toll of food poisoning
Q: How can people reduce risk at home when cooking rice?
Rinse rice well, cook with a large amount of water, and drain thoroughly to minimize heavy metal exposure from contaminated water sources.
The global toll of food poisoning
Q: What are the main food contaminants by the number of cases, and what surprised you about the new report?
The main contaminants are bacteria like E. coli and viruses, with heavy metal poisoning causing a disproportionately high share of deaths, which was surprising given its relatively small share of illnesses.
Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Q: Since COVID, there's talk of vaccines being developed within 100 days. Could that be possible here?
Experts say we already have Ebola vaccines; the key is updating the vaccine design for the current strain, manufacturing, testing, and ensuring rapid deployment, but it is not a guaranteed 100-day turnaround due to the need for validation and distribution logistics.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Check

What is Health Check about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A global health-focused magazine-style show covers health news, research breakthroughs, and policy developments from around the world. Episodes commonly thread together medical advances with real-world implications—from immune responses and vaccine science to universal healthcare reforms and public health challenges in diverse settings. A standout quality is the mix of expert analysis with on-the-ground reporting, offering practical context for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and informed listeners who want to understand how health trends play out across regions and systems. The show often features high-profile researchers, clinicians, journalists, and policy voices, creating a broad, evidence-driven narrative that's accessible yet r... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Health Check?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Health Check:

1. CrowdScience
2. BBC Inside Science
3. All in the Mind
4. Unexpected Elements
5. People Fixing the World

How many episodes of Health Check are there?

Health Check launched 19 years ago and published 307 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Health Check?

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What guests have appeared on Health Check?

Recent guests on Health Check include:

1. Claudia Kichiyo Montesinos
2. Juan Perez
3. Ana Villanueva
4. Pilar Noches
5. Ann Robinson
6. Nicola Dalbeth
7. Joanna Kavenna
8. Ben Alderson-Day

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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