Global Scans · Healthcare · Weekly Summary

• [New] Public Health expects to begin distributing fentanyl and xylazine test strips from the Washington State Department of Health this month. The Columbian
• [New] Emerging markets represent a promising frontier for innovation in the fight against obesity, with the potential to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide. Yahoo Finance
• [New] When drinking water contaminants are linked to health harms such as cancer, the EPA when developing health advisories must assume the safe level is zero, or the level at which there is no known or expected risk. Environmental Working Group
• [New] The adoption of more structured benefit-risk analyses by NRAs could lead to greater harmonization of benefit-risk assessment globally and provide a framework that could be incorporated into health authorities' benefit-risk algorithms. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] 49, 50 In the United Kingdom, the ACMD concluded that synthetic opioids posed a significant risk to public health and recommended that current monitoring and surveillance systems be adapted to help identify the true scale of the public health threat. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Swapping red meat for forage fish, such as herring, sardines and anchovies, could save up to 750,000 lives a year in 2050 and significantly reduce the prevalence of disability as a result of diet-related disease, suggests a data analysis published in BMJ Global Health. Global Seafood Alliance
• [New] Because of the Canada Carbon Rebate, the Government of can take real action to slow down climate change and still protect households from increased costs that climate change will mean for insurance, infrastructure repairs, health care, and more. Yahoo Finance
• [New] A shift towards healthy dietary patterns has the potential to curtail the current unsustainable high level of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer in the United States and around the globe. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The reconstruction of Gaza's public health systems will require solutions that are not just about addressing immediate medical needs, but that also consider the broader infrastructure - including mental health services and vaccination programs, as well as the provision of essential medications. UPI
• [New] The UK is not immune to the health risks of climate change, as we have seen with unprecedented heatwaves in recent years. Education News
• [New] The FDA's proposed menthol rule relies heavily on a study published in 2021 projecting that a federal ban would avert about 650,000 premature deaths by the year 2060, demonstrating a substantial benefit to public health. Slate
• [New] In 2024, in an even more uncertain world, the top risk has moved to health and safety in all regions except for Great Britain, where data loss slightly edges out health and safety. WTW
• [New] A global health threat of alarming proportions which could cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050 if not effectively curbed, antibiotic resistance is resulting in increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Times of India
• [New] Open dumping and inappropriate disposal in landfills presented threats to public health and safety of the environment as well as contributed an estimated 5% of global greenhouse gases to climate change. Ghana News Agency
• [New] Physical inactivity is a serious public health concern worldwide, which is the fourth modifiable risk factor for non-communicable disease mortality and a significant contributor to disability. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Favorable government policies and regulatory frameworks have created an enabling environment for innovation in female health tech, driving advancements that have the potential to significantly improve the quality of healthcare for women worldwide. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Only seven countries globally meet the air quality standards set by the World Health Organization, leaving 99% of the world's population at risk of a vast array of health conditions linked to the air they breathe. The Telegraph
• Investors have an opportunity to support Nestle to adapt and become a world leader on health. ShareAction
• Companies that want to be successful in the long-term should ensure they do not rely too heavily on unhealthy products and heed the growing consumer demand for healthier food, which will help deliver better health outcomes globally. ShareAction
• Nestle is currently heavily reliant on the sales of less healthy foods, exposing it and its shareholders to significant business risks while harming people's health. ShareAction
• Physical activity such as walking can help reduce stress, improve mood and sleep, and lower the risk of diseases according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services physical activity guidelines. American Heart Association
• The World Health Organization describes unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle by physical inactivity as leading global health risks. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 14 April 2024