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] In 2026, healthcare AI will shift from generative content to agentic AI; intelligent agents capable of executing complex clinical tasks and seamlessly integrating into healthcare workflows will become mainstream, evolving from assistive tools to decision-making partners for physicians. Healthcare IT News
• [New] In 2026, health systems will recognize AI-enabled clinical integrity as a patient safety priority rather than just a revenue goal. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] By the end of 2026, most health systems will recognize that meaningful patient-safety gains depend on the accuracy of the data feeding their AI tools. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] In 2026, improving safety and quality for children with special health care needs will depend on deeper integration across pediatric services and better data interoperability. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] For the first time, promoting efficacy will be just as important as protecting privacy when governing healthcare data access in 2026. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] In 2026, advancing patient safety will depend on how well we transform lab data into actionable intelligence that improves both care quality and cost efficiency. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] In 2026, more health systems will begin treating allergy history accuracy as a measurable quality and safety priority. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] In 2026, leading healthcare organizations will continue to take steps forward with building the infrastructure, training and guidelines needed to facilitate, not hinder nurses' daily workflows. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] Medical AI is projected to save the US healthcare economy $150 billion annually by 2026. InfoFina.com
• [New] Experts predict shifts in U.S. healthcare for 2026, focusing on affordability, consumer demands, mental health equity and the essential role of doulas. Managed Healthcare Executive
• [New] Although 94% of US adults believe mental health is equally important to physical health, most do not know how to identify changes in mental health that signal serious risk, or what to do in response, let alone have feasible access and mental health coverage anywhere near parity. Psychiatric Times
• [New] With resistance to current treatments rising, climate change increasing mosquito ranges, and political uncertainties jeopardizing global health commitments, the innovative PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine offers timely hope for millions. EurekAlert!
• [New] Beyond individual events, the government of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, outlined a 2025 policy (2024-2027) to establish Cali and its region as a premier health tourism destination. Health Tourism News
• [New] The growth of gut health drinks like Poppi has been a key area of focus and will continue to be in 2026. Beverage Industry
• [New] Australia's health technology sector in 2026 will be defined by smarter, more connected care. Healthcare IT News
• [New] The first week of January has already signaled that 2026 will be the year of the Mega-Merger Renaissance, with analysts projecting global healthcare deal flow could reach a staggering $3.9 trillion. Valley City Times-Record
• [New] Fueled in part by new innovations that have been developed to help people look and feel their best, the health and wellness sector is projected to grow by 2/3 over the next decade - from $6 trillion in 2024 to $11 trillion by 2034. Medical Economics
• [New] The life sciences sector might be becoming increasingly borderless, but only 41% of responding biopharma and medtech executives felt optimistic about the health of the global economy. Pharmaphorum
• [New] Long-term strategies should focus on healthcare / social assistance growth (BLS projects dominance through 2033) while balancing quality over short-term gains. Ainvest
• [New] In 2026, AI will play a significant role in digital health; streamlining clinical decision-making, freeing clinicians from repetitive tasks and providing more patient-focused care. Digital Health
• [New] In 2026, cardiovascular care will undergo a major shift toward proactive, digitally enabled management as health systems respond to record cardiac demand and workforce shortages. Digital Health
• [New] In 2026, health and social care will lean more heavily into predictive workforce analytics and will seek AI models grounded in real operational data as leaders take action to deliver transformation, including change demanded by national policies, such as the 10 year health plan. Digital Health

Last updated: 11 January 2026