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] For all health systems, flexibility and managing through uncertainty will be paramount as many of the top stories from 2025 will continue to play out in the year ahead. Healthcare Advisory Services and Analytics | Chartis
• [New] Improved health in livestock will result in increased and more efficient production of livestock-derived foods, benefiting global efforts to enhance food and nutrition security and eradicate poverty. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] A One Health approach offers a promising framework for tackling health threats stemming from the interface between animals, humans, and the environment. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The United States will contribute $1.6 billion over the next five years to support HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, maternal and child health, polio eradication, disease surveillance, and infectious disease outbreak response and preparedness in Kenya. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] Kenya will increase its domestic health investment by $850 million, meeting new co-investment and performance benchmarks intended to advance long-term health self-reliance. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] The UN's Call to Action on Extreme Heat is an urgent appeal for governments, policy-makers and the health sector to address the profound threat climate change presents to health and well-being. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Europe faces a healthcare workforce shortage of 4.1 million by 2030. Pharmaphorum
• [New] Addressing emerging security risks, the UAE adopted the National Encryption Policy, which calls on government entities to develop clear, well-defined, and officially approved transition plans from traditional encryption methods to post-quantum cryptography. Big News Network.com
• [New] The Budget offered small steps but falls short of delivering the bold, strategic investment needed to modernise New Zealand's health system and unlock the full potential of digital innovation. Pulse+IT
• [New] A new global report warns that measles outbreaks are being accelerated by persistent anti-vaccine narratives that discourage immunization, with the WHO describing measles as an early warning signal of wider vaccine failure. EU DisinfoLab
• [New] Carriers cite strong demand drivers, with healthcare logistics projected to grow steadily through 2030 and FedEx forecasting $9 billion in health care revenue by fiscal 2025. Transport Topics
• [New] As 2025 comes to a close, millions of Americans could be heading into the new year without affordable health insurance due to the expiration of enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. The Healthy
• [New] Doctors and groups representing employers said they are increasingly hearing about companies cutting weight loss drugs out of health plans in 2026 as costs mount. STAT
• [New] The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration structure, in an effort to improve veterans' healthcare, eliminate bureaucracy and apply VA policies consistently across all department medical facilities. Healthcare IT News
• [New] Persistent global economic uncertainty, supply chain volatility and labour shortages will no doubt continue to pressure firms in 2026 but growth will still be possible for well-positioned businesses willing to invest in digital technology. The Manufacturer
• [New] 2026 will be a decisive M&A year as EHRs, HIEs, and population-health vendors absorb adjacent assets to offer broader, AI-enhanced platforms. Signify Research
• [New] Tens of millions of women have been denied the life-changing and long-term health benefits of hormone therapy because of medical dogma rooted in a distortion of risk. Society for Women's Health Research
• [New] A Historic FDA Decision on Hormone Replacement Therapy In November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a decision that has already reverberated through women's health and will for decades to come: the removal of black box warnings from hormone therapy products for menopause. Society for Women's Health Research
• [New] Health insurance costs are expected to rise for Americans in 2026. Business Insider
• [New] Recent scientific studies conducted in Africa have highlighted the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure as well as promising bioremediation strategies. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Health risk studies in South America have identified clear associations between PFAS exposure and adverse health effects. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 21 December 2025