Noah Wyle has said the United States would benefit from a healthcare system similar to the NHS, as he discussed his new medical drama The Pitt.
The TV series, created by R Scott Gemmill, stars Wyle as Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who oversees an overstretched emergency department in Pittsburgh.
Praised for its realism, the show reflects the pressures faced by healthcare workers, with storylines that often mirror real-world challenges.
Speaking in London following a screening tied to the UK and Ireland launch of HBO Max, Wyle said he hoped the show would resonate with British audiences, admitting both the UK and US healthcare systems are “frustrating for totally different reasons.”
“The US is laden with insurance companies being the intermediary between the doctor and the patient, and care is being predicated by the algorithm insurance company dictates and not the physician, so it’s really become a profit driven, quality-of-care-diminishing system,” he said about the US.
“I think it’s really enviable that’s not part of your [UK] conversation but the flipside to it is you have a base median of care that’s not exactly as good as it could be perhaps but it’s frustrating for different reasons.”
“I personally think we need some sort of national healthcare service in the United States, we need universal coverage for everybody,” the actor, who also serves as an executive producer, said to applause from the audience.
He added that while emergency treatment is legally guaranteed in the US, many patients delay seeking care due to cost concerns, noting they are often “afraid of the bills”.
Produced by John Wells Productions with Warner Bros Television, the series has already proved a critical success.
Its first season won five Emmy Awards, including best drama series, with Wyle taking best actor and Katherine LaNasa best supporting actress.
The show has since returned for a second season in the US, with new episodes released weekly ahead of an April 16 finale, and has already been renewed for a third.
Discussing the next chapter, Wyle confirmed writing is under way.
“Very soon, boss. We are in the process of writing character arcs for season three for everybody,” he told Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content.
“It’s a very interesting show to break because, unlike a lot of shows where there are 22 episodes that may play out over a calendar year, this is 15 hours of one day. So you’re painting with a much finer brush.
“For a character’s arc, it’s not really enough to go through the courtship of a romance, but it’s enough to get your head turned.
“These are really small arcs that happen in the course of a day, but can be really satisfying if you’re engaged with that character.”
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