A Free Healthcare System at Scale: The Indus Hospital Network with Dr. Zafar Zaidi

A Free Healthcare System at Scale: The Indus Hospital Network with Dr. Zafar Zaidi

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO of the Indus Hospital and Health Network, takes us inside one of the world’s most ambitious healthcare models - a hospital system that provides completely free care at scale. Serving millions across Pakistan, the network is redefining what equitable healthcare can look like. How do you build and sustain a healthcare system where no patient ever receives a bill? Dr. Zaidi shares the vision, challenges, and innovations behind this groundbreaking model - and what the rest of the world can learn from it Check out Dr. Zaidi's TED Talk to learn more about his journey! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2G6H5_YzlI

Episode 19: When Cities Go Global - New York, WHO, And The Future Of Public Health

What happens when a U.S. state joins the World Health Organization — after the United States officially withdraws? In this episode, we unpack New York State’s decision to join the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a WHO-coordinated system designed to detect and respond to disease outbreaks around the world. With the U.S. federal government stepping away from WHO membership, New York — along with a few other states — has chosen to stay connected to global public health infrastructure. Article: "First look: New York joins WHO network after Trump pulls U.S. from UN agency [https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/new-york-who-global-outbreak-alert-response-network?]" #GlobalHealth #PublicHealth #WHO #GOARN #HealthPolicy #PandemicPreparedness #OutbreakResponse #HealthSecurity #InfectiousDisease #GlobalGovernance #PublicHealthNews #AdvoSciHealth #ASHPodcast

Episode 18: The Water We Drink - Kashechewan And The Path To Health Equity

In this episode of ASH, we unpack the evacuation of Kashechewan First Nation following a failure of its water and sewage systems and confirmed cases of cryptosporidium, a waterborne parasite. Hundreds of residents were forced to leave their community and relocate to southern Ontario — once again highlighting how water insecurity in Indigenous communities is treated as an emergency instead of a preventable policy failure. Article 1: "Niagara Falls helps hundreds of Kashechewan water crisis evacuees settle into the Ontario city [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/kashechewan-evacuues-in-niagara-falls-ontario-9.7048949]" Article 2: "19 members of Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario test positive for cryptosporidium [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/kashechewan-cryptosporidium-9.7053056]" #kashechwan #indigenoushealth #WaterIsARight #publichealth #healthequity #indigenousrights #canadahealth #environmentaljustice #reconciliation #advoscihealth #ashpodcast

Episode 17: "Beyond the White Coat: Shaping the Future Physician"

What does it really take to build a new medical school – and reimagine the kind of physicians our communities truly need? In this powerful new episode of the ASH Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Teresa Chan, the Founding Dean of the TMU School of Medicine. From insights into the inaugural class and honest reflections on leadership lessons to a deep dive into healthcare inequities, this conversation goes beyond titles, beyond tradition, and beyond the white coat. Watch now on our Spotify and YouTube channels, and join us as we explore how the future of medicine is being shaped today!

Episode 16: Ontario’s Doctor Billing System - Oversight, Accountability, and What This Means for Patients

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, we break down a troubling finding from the Auditor General of Ontario: the province may not be properly overseeing how doctors bill the healthcare system. What does weak oversight actually mean for public trust, healthcare spending, and patient care? Tune in as we unpack the report, explain why it matters to everyday Ontarians, and explore the ripple effects this could have on the future of publicly funded care in Ontario. If you care about where healthcare dollars go — and who’s responsible for watching them — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.