Doctors must work collaboratively and honestly to find solutions to the worldwide crisis of burnout in the medical profession, a BMA-hosted conference has heard.

Pressures on healthcare services and the rising risk of moral injury in the workplace are directly contributing to ill-health and wellbeing among healthcare professionals, with doctors needing to find solutions for themselves and their patients.

The warning comes as hundreds of doctors gather in London for this year’s International Conference of Physician Health, a collaborative event staged by the BMA alongside the CMA (Canadian Medical Association) and AMA (American Medical Association).

The three-day conference, which incorporates presentations, panel discussions and workshops, sees its focus this year turned to addressing the epidemic of medical burnout by understanding and identifying strategies for change.

Sharing the stage with her presidential counterparts Willie Underwood III from the AMA and Bolu Ogunyemi from the CMA, BMA president Farah Bhatti (pictured above) said that the context of this year’s conference ‘could not be more important’.

She said: ‘Across countries and health systems, physicians are working under sustained pressure. The health and wellbeing of doctors is not an optional extra, and neither is it separate from the quality of healthcare that is delivered to patients. It is fundamental to all of it. When physicians are supported to be well, to work safely, and to find purpose and fulfilment in their careers – patients, teams and health systems benefit.’

Referencing the association’s own in-depth study into the effect of presenteeism and burnout in the NHS The Cost of Carrying on, which revealed many doctors felt compelled to continue working even when to do so came at the expense of their own health.

Findings from the study included the startling admission from 81 per cent of respondents admitting to have worked, trained or studied at least once during a period of three-months while not feeling well enough.

The detrimental effects of presenteeism on staff wellbeing was further highlighted by the study, which showed 60 per cent of respondents had been concerned about making mistakes, with 56 per cent admitting they feared their quality of care to patients would be diminished.

Speaking to the conference today, Prof Bhatti said the report shows the need to find ways to develop safe staffing levels and supportive workplace cultures and improving access to occupational health services.

She added she hoped the conference would go some way to identifying practical solutions to these challenges.

She said: ‘No single organisation, profession, or country has all the answers. Progress depends on collaboration across borders, across disciplines, and across healthcare systems. Over the course of the next few days, I hope we'll be open about what's working, honest about what still needs to change, and generous in sharing what we have learned ourselves.

‘The BMA is proud to host ICPH 2026 – a safe space where physician health is treated not as an option extra, but a shared priority. Each of us has a role in building a safe environment where doctors can thrive and have a sustainable, fulfilling, fulfilling medical career.’