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Royal College of Physicians Highlights AI, Tobacco, and Global Medicine in June Commentary
June’s issue of the Royal College of Physicians’ Commentary offers a sweeping look at the forces reshaping medical practice across the UK and beyond. Clinicians, educators, and policy experts converge to discuss the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the National Health Service (NHS), the evolving landscape of tobacco use, and the contributions of women physicians in the Middle East.
At the heart of the edition is the RCP’s 2026 View on Digital and AI report, released in January. The study found that 70 % of doctors surveyed support AI adoption, yet 68 % believe the NHS is not yet digitally ready to deploy it. Reported barriers include broken digital foundations, poor workflow integration, and a lack of performance monitoring. Dr Anne Kinderlerer, the RCP’s digital health clinical lead, stressed that physicians need systems that solve real‑world problems while safeguarding patient safety. In response, the RCP has entered consultations with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to shape a regulatory framework that balances innovation with safety.
The issue also turns to tobacco. Professor Sanjay Agrawal, the RCP’s special adviser on tobacco, reflects on the UK’s smoking‑related health crisis following the release of Smoking, health and social justice in May. He notes that adult smoking rates fell from 20 % in 2011 to just under 12 % in 2023, but disparities persist, especially among routine and manual workers.
Career narratives occupy a significant portion of the commentary. Several contributors describe their journeys as SAS doctors forging independent careers, while others consider the responsibilities of an RCP censor. Dr Kathryn Mannix, a physician and author, recounts her experience guest‑editing a special edition of the Future Healthcare Journal on end‑of‑life care, underscoring the need for compassionate, patient‑centred decision‑making.
Education and training receive prominent coverage through the election of Dr Dan Furmedge as senior censor and vice‑president for education and training. Furmedge outlines priorities that include improving the quality of medical education, strengthening postgraduate training pathways, and expanding opportunities for resident doctors. The issue also reports on the Medicine 2026 abstract competition, which showcased emerging research from junior clinicians, and the RCP’s Call the med reg conference, a program designed to equip doctors with practical skills for career progression.
Global medicine is highlighted by an interview with Dr Mayssam Akroush, founding president of the Pan Arab Women Physicians Association (PAWPA). Akroush explains PAWPA’s mission to support and empower female physicians across the Middle East, noting that women play a crucial role in addressing health challenges such as irrational antibiotic use. The commentary also covers Dr Shakir Mahmood Muhammed’s overview of the RCP Iraq Network, detailing its achievements and future ambitions in strengthening medical practice in Iraq.
Additional updates include conservation work to preserve the RCP’s historical collections, summaries of cardiometabolic prevention summits, a quality‑improvement review of Medicine 2026, and cross‑specialty initiatives to improve end‑of‑life care.
Editorial columns by RCP president Professor Mumtaz Patel and commentary editor Professor Ollie Minton frame the issue’s themes, offering perspective on the College’s strategic direction.
In sum, the June Commentary underscores the RCP’s role in guiding the integration of digital technologies, addressing public health challenges, and fostering global medical collaboration. The issue signals ongoing efforts to strengthen training, support women in medicine, and ensure that AI and other innovations are implemented safely and equitably across the NHS.
At the heart of the edition is the RCP’s 2026 View on Digital and AI report, released in January. The study found that 70 % of doctors surveyed support AI adoption, yet 68 % believe the NHS is not yet digitally ready to deploy it. Reported barriers include broken digital foundations, poor workflow integration, and a lack of performance monitoring. Dr Anne Kinderlerer, the RCP’s digital health clinical lead, stressed that physicians need systems that solve real‑world problems while safeguarding patient safety. In response, the RCP has entered consultations with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to shape a regulatory framework that balances innovation with safety.
The issue also turns to tobacco. Professor Sanjay Agrawal, the RCP’s special adviser on tobacco, reflects on the UK’s smoking‑related health crisis following the release of Smoking, health and social justice in May. He notes that adult smoking rates fell from 20 % in 2011 to just under 12 % in 2023, but disparities persist, especially among routine and manual workers.
Career narratives occupy a significant portion of the commentary. Several contributors describe their journeys as SAS doctors forging independent careers, while others consider the responsibilities of an RCP censor. Dr Kathryn Mannix, a physician and author, recounts her experience guest‑editing a special edition of the Future Healthcare Journal on end‑of‑life care, underscoring the need for compassionate, patient‑centred decision‑making.
Education and training receive prominent coverage through the election of Dr Dan Furmedge as senior censor and vice‑president for education and training. Furmedge outlines priorities that include improving the quality of medical education, strengthening postgraduate training pathways, and expanding opportunities for resident doctors. The issue also reports on the Medicine 2026 abstract competition, which showcased emerging research from junior clinicians, and the RCP’s Call the med reg conference, a program designed to equip doctors with practical skills for career progression.
Global medicine is highlighted by an interview with Dr Mayssam Akroush, founding president of the Pan Arab Women Physicians Association (PAWPA). Akroush explains PAWPA’s mission to support and empower female physicians across the Middle East, noting that women play a crucial role in addressing health challenges such as irrational antibiotic use. The commentary also covers Dr Shakir Mahmood Muhammed’s overview of the RCP Iraq Network, detailing its achievements and future ambitions in strengthening medical practice in Iraq.
Additional updates include conservation work to preserve the RCP’s historical collections, summaries of cardiometabolic prevention summits, a quality‑improvement review of Medicine 2026, and cross‑specialty initiatives to improve end‑of‑life care.
Editorial columns by RCP president Professor Mumtaz Patel and commentary editor Professor Ollie Minton frame the issue’s themes, offering perspective on the College’s strategic direction.
In sum, the June Commentary underscores the RCP’s role in guiding the integration of digital technologies, addressing public health challenges, and fostering global medical collaboration. The issue signals ongoing efforts to strengthen training, support women in medicine, and ensure that AI and other innovations are implemented safely and equitably across the NHS.
