Global Scans · Health · Weekly Summary

• [New] Medicaid: Proposed cuts to states that fund Medicaid through provider taxes and that expanded their coverage under the Affordable Care Act, as well as a proposed work requirement for adults 18-64 receiving Medicaid, will result in nearly 11 million people losing access to health insurance by 2034. AAMC
• [New] U.S. employers and workers are being squeezed by the steepest run-up in health insurance costs in years, with average family premiums nearing $26,993 in 2025 and pressure building for even sharper increases in 2026. Fortune
• [New] By 2025, an estimated 2.3 billion smartphone users will actively use health and wellness applications, signaling a massive shift in patient engagement. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• [New] Bioinformatics, a fast-growing field at the intersection of biology, computer science, and statistics, could help Nigeria move from reactive medicine to predictive and personalised healthcare. Healthwise
• [New] Homeless children are at higher risk of facing serious health conditions and are more susceptible to substance abuse and violence. / USA The Salvation Army USA
• [New] The goal to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 is technically achievable, but progress is dangerously uneven. EATG
• [New] HLTH devoted more floor space, sessions and attention to AI in 2025, and hospital and healthcare leaders have unabashed enthusiasm for AI's potential to eventually improve patient care. Onclive
• [New] 2025's enforcement landscape brought sharper oversight, evolving regulations, and new vulnerabilities across healthcare and beyond. Healthicity
• [New] Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US, launched in 2019, is an initiative run by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the objective of reducing new HIV infections in the US by 75% and 90% by 2025 and 2030, respectively. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Climate change constitutes one of the most important threats to human health worldwide. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The year 2026 will see heightened uncertainty for international healthcare specialists (e.g., physicians, nurses, physical therapists) due to a perfect storm of geopolitical tensions, evolving immigration policies, and domestic protectionist pressures. Syncx
• [New] Asia Pacific is forecast as the fastest-growing region, driven by rising healthcare expenditure, expanding hospital networks, medical tourism, and increasing awareness of minimally invasive surgery benefits in countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Vantage Market Research
• [New] By mid-century, the Northern Territory is projected to experience the highest heat-related mental health impacts, with projections suggesting over 4% of its mental health burden could be linked to extreme heat by 2050. Caliber.az
• [New] In pharmaceutical R&D, companies like Insilico Medicine use generative models to design novel protein structures with therapeutic potential by reducing discovery time from years to weeks. Market Data Forecast
• [New] A new trial will evaluate whether integrating autonomous AI screening for diabetic retinopathy into U.S. federally qualified health centers can boost screening completion and accelerate early detection. News-Medical
• [New] Biodiversity collapse and climate-related disasters could cost trillions of dollars in lost productive capacity, and have wide-reaching consequences for public health, economic stability, and global security. Project Syndicate
• [New] Road traffic noise pollution in the UK can significantly impact public health, contributing to stress, sleep disturbances, and increased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Transport + Health
• [New] Importantly, up to 40% of long-term conditions could be prevented if everyone met the UK Chief Medical Officer's physical activity recommendations. Transport + Health
• [New] Fiscal consolidation priorities and IMF-mandated reforms will continue to restrict public healthcare investment, driving continued reliance on the private sector in the near term. Fitch Solutions
• [New] Pakistan's digital health transformation will accelerate following the launch of the One Patient One ID initiative. Fitch Solutions
• [New] The GCC countries will lead in AI integration, owing to existing digital health frameworks. Fitch Solutions
• [New] We maintain moderate-to-high-growth outlooks for digital health in many MENA markets, with opportunities driven by private sector investment. Fitch Solutions

Last updated: 31 October 2025