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] Being a Viasat shareholder today means believing that growing global demand for secure, resilient connectivity across defence, aviation, maritime, and space will outweigh the ongoing financial pressures from heavy capital investments and intense industry competition. Webull
• [New] Community health workers are the backbone of the fight against deadly diseases and continued support for them will be critical to ending HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by 2030. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] Takeda has now shifted its priority to six drug candidates, including elritercept for anaemia in blood cancers, which is being tested in late-stage trials and is expected to bring in an estimated combined peak sales of $10 billion to $20 billion. pharmexec
• [New] The Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan, launched this year, is improving the medical environment and system overall and will ensure higher quality healthcare services for all citizens. Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)
• [New] The effects of UPFs can pile up over time, adding to the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health issues by raising blood pressure and blood sugar levels, for example. The Independent
• [New] Apple has not confirmed any new subscriptions yet, but industry chatter points toward Health +, a potential paid subscription service that will combine personalized health tracking, fitness content, and nutrition guidance powered by Apple Intelligence. WCCFtech
• [New] Health + Service incoming: Analysts expect Apple to introduce Health +, a personalized wellness subscription built around AI and Apple Watch. WCCFtech
• [New] Health care spending jumped about 8.2% in 2024 and is projected to grow another 7.1% in 2025, outpacing spending across the broader economy. NBC News
• [New] Health spending may slow slightly in 2026 as fewer people are expected to have health insurance, but costs will likely keep rising faster than the overall economy. NBC News
• [New] Another report from the consulting firm Aon projects employer health care costs will climb 9.5% in 2026, based on data from more than 1,000 U.S. companies. NBC News
• [New] Employers say health care plan costs could rise by nearly 9% on average in 2026 if they do not take action to control costs. NBC News
• [New] COVID vaccines will continue to be covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal for the time being. University of California San Francisco
• [New] Australians for Mental Health is urging all governments to take steps to slow climate change, after the first national climate risk assessment warned of the associated impacts on mental health. Mirage News
• [New] The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health has recently reported a steady decline in the mental health of emerging adults over the past two decades, likely driven by new and evolving threats to adolescent well-being. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] With the end of the decade approaching, WTDC will reaffirm the importance of digital technologies to advance people's well-being, protect the planet, and boost prosperity for all. EurekAlert!
• [New] Increases in health care costs for Medicare recipients, cuts to nutrition assistance programs, and the redirection of public school funding collectively threaten the stability and opportunity structures within low-income communities. Equitable Growth
• [New] Rebuilding Gaza's health system will not only save lives today; it will restore dignity, stability and hope for the future. UN News
• In the Asia Pacific region, India is expected to lead with AR/VR in healthcare at a CAGR of 26.1% by 2027. KOMPANIONS
• Unless prices dramatically decline, Wegovy and other weight loss drugs could push Americans to spend $1 trillion per year on prescription drugs and have the potential to bankrupt Medicare, Medicaid, and our entire health care system. AJMC
• Unnecessary use of compounded drugs may expose patients to potentially serious health risks due to medication errors. AJMC

Last updated: 12 October 2025