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Over the last 5 years, a handful of exceptional medical dramas have captivated viewers around the world. These shows are not limited to hospital scenes but also share stories of people’s problems, team efforts, and how they change emotionally. All dramas have a unique perspective on medicine, regardless of whether they focus on real-life instances like Dr. Death or depict more humorous stories like Doctor Slump or Heart Beat.
These shows expose viewers to other cultures and medical circumstances because they are set in America, South Korea, India, and Canada. We have picked 10 leading medical dramas that were released within the past five years.
Disclaimer: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
The 10 must-watch medical dramas released in the last 5 years are given below
10. Dr. Death (2021, USA)
Dr. Death is a powerful drama that tells the story of Texas surgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch, who mistreated numerous patients through substandard medical care. In the show, Joshua Jackson reveals how Duntsch exploits his charm even though he is absolutely incompetent in his role. Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater play surgeons who see Duntsch's dangerous behavior and do everything they can to stop him. AnnaSophia Robb plays a strong prosecutor who sees that the doctor is brought to court.
According to Rotten Tomatoes' 93% rating for the first season, critics praise the series' dark and gritty plot as well as the acting. The show explores Duntsch's personal decline while also exposing structural flaws in the medical system that permitted this kind of wrongdoing to go unpunished. This medical drama is available for streaming on Peacock.
9. Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (2021-2023, USA)
Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. starts where Doogie Howser, M.D. ended, using a unique and interesting approach. The plot is set in Hawaii around Lahela, also known as Doogie, a teenage medical talent who must manage her career and the challenges that all teenagers face. Peyton Elizabeth Lee plays Lahela and does an excellent job of making the protagonist charming and deep. Its storyline and characters have been praised, and the series uniquely blends medical drama with coming-of-age subjects.
Most critics have praised the movie, giving it a Metascore of 71 on Metacritic. The beautiful scenery of Hawaii makes the show more appealing and adds color to Lahela’s story. You can watch this show on Disney+.
8. This Is Going to Hurt (2022, UK)
Adam Kay’s story, This Is Going to Hurt, is about the first period of working in a hospital for a young doctor. In this medical drama, junior doctor Adam, played by Ben Whishaw, is the main protagonist as he works in the NHS hospital. Besides, the series reveals the problems doctors and nurses encounter, such as extra work, not having enough help, and coping with strong emotions.
Critics and viewers alike have praised the film for showing hospitals in a realistic way, and Rotten Tomatoes rewarded it with a 96% rating. The series includes some dark comedy interspersed with stories of what healthcare professionals encounter at work and home. Both BBC iPlayer and AMC+ allow you to watch it online.
7. SkyMed (2022-Present, Canada)
In 2022, Canadians viewed the first episode of SkyMed, a show about medical emergencies. The story was shot in the North of Manitoba and focuses on nurses and pilots employed by an air ambulance company. The medical drama tells the stories of both the emergencies and the lives of people in secluded areas. Crystal, who is from an Indigenous background and is a nurse, and Hayley, a maternity nurse, widen the range of ideas the team discusses.
The show’s unusual place and ability to keep up the interest have been highly praised by viewers. This drama is available for streaming on Paramount+.
6. Transplant (2020-2024, Canada)
From 2020 to 2024, the Canadian medical drama Transplant was produced and released to viewers. Dr. Bashir Hamed, who is from Syria, is the main character, trying to continue his career as a doctor in Canada. Now that he is in a new country, he deals with various challenges at every stage of his medical career.
It highlights his experiences during residency, both as an individual and as he integrates into Canadian society. Bashir’s strong will and dedication to saving lives are evident in each of the four seasons.
Transplant stood out from other medical dramas due to its captivating plot and superb casting. In January 2024, the final season of the series aired, marking the end of Bashir's inspirational journey.
5. Doctor Slump (2024, South Korea)
In early 2024, South Korea’s television scene introduced its new medical drama called Doctor Slump. In the show, Park Hyung-sik and Park Shin-hye play Yeo Jeong-woo and Nam Ha-neul, who used to compete in high school and later find each other during difficult days at work. Jeong-woo suffers a career setback when a patient he was working on passes away all of a sudden. Dr. Ha-neul deals with issues at work and feels the stress of her job more than usual. With both struggling through their slumps, they help and comfort each other, which results in a warm romance.
The drama explores problems related to mental health, the stress of practice, and people’s recovery. People enjoyed Doctor Slump because its characters felt genuine, and the series was respected for addressing the issue of mental health in healthcare.
4. Heart Beat (2024-Present, India)
On March 8, 2024, the Tamil-language medical drama Heart Beat premiered on Disney+ Hotstar. According to the plot, Reena is the main character of the series, and she navigates various hospital situations under the watchful eye of Dr. Rathi. Viewers witness the characters' development as they explore themes like relationships, friendship, and mentorship throughout the series. We see that Reena is Dr. Rathi’s daughter, which makes their relationship more detailed and interesting.
The season finale of the first season was on August 23, 2024, with a total of 100 episodes, and it later appeared on Star Vijay. Season two of the show premiered on May 22, 2025, and Reena continued to portray a skilled doctor who assists her fellow doctors. This Indian drama is celebrated for its well-developed storylines and well-rounded characters, establishing it as a leading series in the Indian medical television genre.
3. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (2025, South Korea)
On January 24, 2025, the South Korean medical drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call made its Netflix debut. Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk, a former military medic who now works as a trauma surgeon, is tasked with revitalizing the trauma unit at Hankuk National University Hospital. Dr. Baek must cope with inadequately run medical services and financial constraints, so he assembles a dedicated team to make sure patients receive vital care where it is most needed.
The show has both medical emergencies and strong action sequences, such as providing urgent care in a moving ambulance. This drama is remembered for its good stories and well-developed characters, and it soared to the top of Netflix's global non-English TV list shortly after its debut.
The show highlights the difficulties in caring for trauma survivors and demonstrates the need for medical teams to have sufficient funding, which is something that people everywhere can relate to.
2. The Pitt (2025, USA)
This medical drama first aired on Max, an American TV network, on January 9, 2025. The main character, played by Noah Wyle, is Dr. Michael Rabinavitch, a seasoned physician at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. Each episode features a full hour of intense scenarios in the emergency room, illustrating the various challenges that healthcare professionals face during their shifts.
The series has received positive feedback for its detailed portrayal of medical care and how such procedures affect the emotions of the staff, especially highlighted during the pandemic. Specialists and medical professionals have praised its honesty and engaging storytelling.
1. St. Denis Medical (2025, USA)
Premiering on NBC on November 12, 2024, St. Denis Medical began as a mockumentary. Developed by Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin, the show takes place in a hospital in Oregon and delivers humorous takes on its daily activities. The portrayal of the nurse’s first day at work reveals both the hectic nature and the humor in the field.
The style is similar to The Office in that it alternates between staged situations and real-life moments. People have appreciated the show because it effectively balances humor and poignant moments in each episode. You can watch this drama on Peacock and NBC.
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It is concluded that storing good stories, performances, and feelings made the story of these ten medical dramas stand out. They demonstrated how challenging it is for doctors, the positive effects of relationships with patients, and issues with healthcare systems.
Every show, whether filmed in a basic clinic or in front of state-of-the-art equipment, stayed in the minds of viewers and enriched the last five years with amazing medical stories.
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