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What a month April was! From launching our Call for Problems for the BMJ Future Health conference taking place later this year to kicking off our early bird ticket sales and gearing up for a packed schedule of webinars in May, it’s been a busy time for us. But we’re not slowing down just yet! 

Read on to find out how you can help shape the agenda for the BMJ Future Health event in London on 6 and 7 November; and maybe even win a free ticket while you’re at it!

BMJ Future Health South Asia learnings

• The Indian government is making significant investments in infrastructure to support the nationwide rollout of digital health technologies
• The speed and scale at which these technologies are being introduced across the country is remarkable
• While there is still work to be done to ensure high-quality healthcare in low-and middle-income countries, it was encouraging to hear about the diverse strategies being implemented to address this challenge

Submit your ideas for healthcare problems to be discussed at BMJ Future Health Conference London

We want to hear your views on the biggest problems facing your team or organisation and which you want to see discussed at the event. 

All problems will be reviewed by our expert advisory committee. The best will be shortlisted and put to a community vote where the focus of the workshops will be decided

And if your problem is selected? You will receive a FREE ticket to the conference.

Want to get involved? Submit your problems now.

What we've been reading

• 10 Technologies that will vanish from healthcare by 2050
  In the next 25 years healthcare technologies, like pagers, fax machines, and paper records, are expected to disappear, replaced by digital automated systems. The Medical Futurist Institute’s Bertalan Meskó delves into why and how innovations such as AI diagnostics and remote care will transform how medicine is practiced and delivered. 
• Can smarter procurement drive innovation in smaller countries?
  Smaller countries face challenges in healthcare innovation procurement due to limited resources and expertise.To overcome these hurdles, European initiatives like joint procurement aim to foster collaboration and improve access to innovative solutions. 
• How has healthcare's approach to telehealth changed in the past 5 years?
  Post-pandemic, telehealth has become a core part of healthcare, powered by remote monitoring and virtual care. Despite challenges with integration and reimbursement, real-time monitoring  is transforming how patients are treated with the future of healthcare shifting toward home-based care as the new standard.

Journal Club: Hot take from our editors

• "I am not a priority": ethnic minority experiences of navigating mental health support.
  Ethnic minorities in England face persistent barriers to mental health care, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights ongoing disparities, including cultural stigma, language barriers, and a lack of culturally sensitive care, which contribute to delayed or inadequate support. Integrating cultural competence into mental health care and advocating for stronger collaboration between health services and ethnic minority communities is crucial to improving outcomes.
• Barriers to and facilitators of clinician acceptance and use of artificial intelligence in healthcare settings
  Key factors influencing clinicians adoption of AI included performance expectancy and available support. Additional themes such as clinician hesitancy, legal concerns, and physician involvement – also played significant roles; however many studies focused on high-income countries, highlighting a need for more research in low- and middle-income settings.
• The ethics of using virtual assistants to help people in vulnerable positions access care.
  This study explores the ethical implications of using a “sensitive” virtual assistant (SVA), an AI-driven chatbot designed to support people in vulnerable positions, such as those with disabilities, in accessing care. Through focus groups with care recipients and caregivers, the research identified both the potential and limitations of inclusive digital tools.