Critical medical anthropology is a subfield of medical anthropology that critically examines health, illness, and healing systems within their broader social, political, and economic contexts. It focuses on how structural inequalities, power dynamics, and historical processes shape health outcomes, access to care, and experiences of sickness and well-being. This research field investigates the political economy of health, the impact of global forces, and the social determinants of disease, often challenging biomedical paradigms and advocating for social justice in health. Key characteristics include a commitment to identifying systemic causes of health disparities and often an emancipatory or action-oriented approach aimed at understanding and transforming oppressive health-related conditions. Its significance lies in providing profound insights into health inequities and informing efforts toward more equitable health policies and practices.