Health Unbounded

Governments worldwide are rethinking how health systems work. In high-income countries, there’s a growing push for care that is more local, digital, and prevention-focused  trends accelerated by COVID-19. These priorities align with the World Health Organization’s pillars for strengthening health systems, including strong primary care, digital access, and prevention as central to universal health coverage. In January 2025, the UK government released Road to Recovery: The Government’s 2025 Mandate to NHS England . While focused on England, its themes reflect broader global shifts also underway in countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This alignment signals a global shift in health systems with wide-reaching implications beyond national borders. A Global Pattern in Health System Reform Despite differences in structure and funding, many countries are pursuing similar priorities: Care closer to communities General practice, pharmacy, and neighbourhood teams are p...

Connection is in our DNA   “Social relationships, or the relative lack thereof, constitute a major risk factor for health, rivaling the effect of well established health risk factors such as cigarette smoking, blood pressure, blood lipids, obesity and physical activity.” - House, Landis, and Umberson; Science , 1988 More than three decades later, this finding still rings true. Social connection remains one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools for improving global health. While friendship might not be found on a prescription pad, its impact is no less vital. On 8 June, National Best Friends Day was celebrated across the world. While it may seem like a lighthearted social media moment, there’s something far more important behind it. Friendship is not just a personal joy, it’s a public health asset. From a global health perspective, social connection is increasingly being recognised as a determinant of health. Whether it’s through family, faith communities or friendships, our...

A recent post in the Public Health Lounge LinkedIn group sparked a valuable discussion among public health professionals. He posed the following question: “Think about a public health message you would shout out to the masses… A message you feel everyone should know, but also feel in their bones.” Public health professionals are often required to manage a wide range of priorities: prevention, policy, equity, engagement, funding, data, and the ongoing challenge of shaping systems while remaining meaningfully connected to communities. This made it particularly interesting to see what message people would choose to prioritise if given just one opportunity to communicate something clearly and publicly. Below are some of the responses: “Health is a basic human right, don't let anyone take it away from you!” “Do something kind. For someone else. Today.” “Poverty kills.” “Health equity isn’t charity. It’s justice.” “You don’t notice public health — until it’s gone.” ...