Our Scans · (LF.3) 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] The UK government has unveiled a landmark National Cancer Plan, setting an ambitious target for 75% of cancer patients diagnosed from 2035 to be cancer-free or living well after five years. UKAuthority
• [New] A sweeping global effort to map the environmental roots of disease could reshape the future of health and medicine. SciTechDaily
• [New] Growing awareness of the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods may follow a pattern similar to tobacco in the last century. ScienceDaily
• [New] With AI moving into production mode, the pace of adoption will continue to accelerate and 2026 is likely to mark a turning point in the AI-driven transformation of healthcare. JD Supra
• [New] Healthcare in 2026 will be defined by smarter prevention, meaningful value and a member-focused experience. 2026 healthcare trends that will transform your benefit
• [New] With the Association of American Colleges predicting a shortage of 13,500 to 86,000 physicians by 2036, AI is poised to make a practical difference in both productivity and retention across the wider health-care field. Diagnostic Imaging
• [New] Bridging the gap in women's health data and research represents one of the most untapped opportunities in the global healthcare sector. Ours Abroad News
• [New] The US health care system stands at a crossroads: Rising costs, workforce shortages, and a disjointed system are threatening access to high-quality care. The Conference Board
• [New] Health unions have criticised the 3.3% pay rise imposed on 1.4 million NHS staff in England as an insult, with one threatening to strike over the below-inflation award. The Guardian
• [New] While there are ups and downs in wars and broader conflicts, the US, Israel and others have seen the advanced military capabilities as well as the strength of the Iranian nation - it is less likely there will be a war soon. Dawn
• [New] The Trump administration's changes are boosting pollution and could exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and neurological development issues. Insurance Journal
• [New] People who do not smoke but who are exposed to secondhand smoke can suffer significant harmful effects on their health, including an increased risk of asthma, poor birth outcomes, several cancers, stroke and heart disease. The Guardian
• [New] The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report states that the healthcare provisions in the OBBBA will reduce primary deficits over the 2025-2034 period by $1 trillion, reduce Medicaid enrolment by 12.9 million, and will increase the number of people without health insurance by 7.5 million in 2034. McDermott+
• [New] The US president has scrapped a scientific finding by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health - the so-called endangerment finding. SKY
• [New] The Trump administration's decision to scrap the endangerment finding on Thursday will have wide-reaching consequences for greenhouse gas emissions and, ultimately, could hasten climate change, increase risk to human health and raise fuel costs. Scientific American
• [New] Healthcare providers' tech spending will make up 2.4% of US total tech budget spending in 2026. Forrester
• [New] Forrester expects US healthcare providers' technology budgets, including staff costs, to reach $69 billion in 2026, up from $64 billion in 2025, representing 7.6% year-over-year growth. Forrester
• [New] Artificial intelligence could help people who feel overwhelmed, excluded or disadvantaged when dealing with everyday tasks like paying energy bills or booking healthcare appointments. University of Manchester
• [New] Over 40% of health plan and health system executives expect care-delivery transformation to significantly shape their organizational strategy in 2026. Talencio
• [New] The misuse of artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot in health care is the most significant health technology hazard for 2026. VatorNews -

Last updated: 16 February 2026