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Health Check

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

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes304Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Health & Fitness

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Artwork for Health Check

Latest Episodes

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

From heat exhaustion to dengue fever - monitoring public health risks at the biggest tournament in football history.

With millions of fans travelling to the USA, Canada and Mexico for the men’s football World Cup, Claudia Hammond speaks to Professo... more

Three months into the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, we find out about the 20,000 sailors trapped on board with dwindling resources and minimal health provision. We hear from Mohamed Arrachedi, Network Co-ordinator for the Arab World and Iran for ... more

An Ebola outbreak that started in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading in the region and has been declared a health emergency. Health Check’s Claudia Hammond has the latest with BBC reporter Emery Makumeno in Kinshasa... 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

Helen Sampson
Emeritus Professor, Cardiff University, Director of the Seafarers International Research Centre
Cardiff University
Episode: Seafarer welfare in the Strait of Hormuz
Emery Makumeno
BBC reporter in Kinshasa
BBC
Episode: Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Heather Kerr
Country Director for the International Rescue Committee in the DRC
International Rescue Committee
Episode: Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Nima Mesgarani
Associate Professor at the Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Greg Del Goff
Professor of Immunology
University of Pittsburgh
Episode: Why renaming a health condition matters
Tatjana Gibbons
Lead researcher on endometriosis diagnostic pilot study
University of Oxford
Episode: Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
Oussama Wazni
Section head of cardio electrophysiology
Cleveland Clinic
Episode: Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
Camilla Mota
BBC Brazil journalist
BBC Brazil
Episode: Psychedelic drugs as treatment
Ashley Brown
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
North Carolina State University and UNC Chapel Hill
Episode: Making surgery safer for infants

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 441 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
    9 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
#230
United Kingdom/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#106
Chile/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#115
South Korea/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#122
Singapore/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#195
Japan/Health & Fitness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Why renaming a health condition matters
Q: And what do you have for us today?
Dorcas explains the focus of today's segment, including PCOS renaming to PMOS and the implications for diagnosis, awareness, and stigma.
Psychedelic drugs as treatment
Q: But could you see a use for these in parts of Brazil?
Camilla suggests star-home research ideas could translate to malaria-endemic areas in Brazil, especially riverside communities, though practical deployment and cultural factors would need careful consideration.
Psychedelic drugs as treatment
Q: So Camilla, first of all, what do we mean by psychedelics?
Camilla explains several substances (psilocybin, MDMA, ibogaine) and how they are being studied for mental health and addiction, including how they are used with psychotherapy and the need for careful control.
Making surgery safer for infants
Q: Could this be an alternative to blood transfusions someday?
The aim is to complement or eventually replace some transfusions; in practice it may be used alongside blood products to reduce the overall need for transfusions, especially where stocks are low.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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How many subscribers and views does Health Check have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Health Check?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Health Check:

1. BBC Inside Science
2. CrowdScience
3. All in the Mind
4. Unexpected Elements
5. The Food Chain

How many episodes of Health Check are there?

Health Check launched 19 years ago and published 304 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. Helen Sampson
2. Emery Makumeno
3. Heather Kerr
4. Nima Mesgarani
5. Greg Del Goff
6. Tatjana Gibbons
7. Oussama Wazni
8. Camilla Mota

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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