Global Scans · Good Health and Well-being · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• [New] Spending priorities focus on medical care, projected to top $165 billion, as well as modernizing the VA's computerized patient records system. Stars and Stripes
• [New] Travel medicine has become increasingly complex as new health risks and evolving pathogens emerge globally. insuremeright
• [New] The relative stability of TB detection in Africa has been attributed to minimal disruption from COVID-19-related health system shocks, though the possibility of over-diagnosis in some settings cannot be ruled out. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The fruit and herbal tea segment is likely to grow with an expected CAGR of 9.4% from 2026 to 2034 with a paradigm shift in consumer health consciousness in North America and Western Europe, where demand for caffeine-free, functional beverages is escalating. Market Data Forecast
• [New] By application, the incontinence and pelvic health segment is projected to grow at a solid CAGR between 2026 and 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] Require Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic prior authorization programs that follow newly developed federal standards that seamlessly integrate into physicians' electronic health systems. American Medical Association
• [New] The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma requires that trauma centers have a structured approach to identifying patients at risk for mental health conditions. LWW
• [New] Digital Health (an advisory group supporting the digital transformation of Jersey's health and care system) will introduce Patients Know Best in 2026 - a citizen-facing platform which gives people direct access to their hospital test results and appointments. States Assembly
• [New] The departure of US-embedded experts has created gaps in the global health architecture that are difficult to replace and leaves dangerous blind spots in systems designed to protect populations from emerging biological threats. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Healthcare support occupations are projected to be the fastest-growing occupational group in the U.S. from 2023 to 2033. The Seniors Center
• [New] Home health and personal care aide jobs are projected to grow by about 20-25% this decade, much faster than average, largely due to the increasing number of seniors needing assistance. / USA The Seniors Center
• [New] Health officials are warning that drug poisonings are on the rise across B.C., with a new single-day record for most drug poisonings attended by paramedics being set last week. CBC
• [New] Healthcare in 2026 will be shaped by a major shift towards digital and virtual care. eclipsewellness.net
• [New] In 2026, patients and clients are increasingly expecting healthcare that views them as whole persons - not just focusing on isolated symptoms or diseases. eclipsewellness.net
• [New] The healthcare landscape in 2026 anticipates fierce competition, with over two-thirds of health leaders confident their organizations will outperform peers through innovation and digital transformation. eclipsewellness.net
• [New] Healthcare in 2026 will see more integrated digital platforms, virtual visits, and AI-driven administrative automation to enhance care and efficiency. eclipsewellness.net
• [New] Combining all measures in a full system change was shown to be the most effective method, reducing the global health burden of plastics by 43% in 2040. EurekAlert!
• [New] The adverse health consequences stemming from the global plastics system are projected to more than double by 2040, driven by greenhouse gases, air pollutants and toxic chemicals released throughout its lifecycle. The Independent
• [New] The cost to patients will be much higher with the coming Medicare 2026 law as well as the new permanent rules for virtual care. Human Medical Billing
• [New] TCE is associated with health risks including liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. BillTrack50
• [New] PCE is associated with health risks such as damage to the kidney, liver, and immune system, neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, and cancer from inhalation or skin exposure. BillTrack50
• [New] The Thai Government promoted universal access to public health services and implemented measures to ensure that vulnerable women, including informal female workers and registered migrant women, could access healthcare. The United Nations Office at Geneva
• [New] In 2026, the Trump effect on dealmaking in healthcare will be significant. MHA | Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Last updated: 01 February 2026