Global Scans · Health · Weekly Summary

• [New] By 2030, relative to current law, the Biden plan would decrease the uninsurance rate from 10% to 6%, decrease private insurance premiums by 23% and out-of-pocket spending by 16%, and decrease the percent of the population that forgoes medical care from 7% to 4%. Penn Wharton Budget Model
• [New] Universal Health Coverage (UHC), defined as ensuring all individuals have access to essential health services without financial hardship, has emerged as a critical goal in global health policy, particularly as a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By 2026, prescription spending is projected to increase to $875 billion, or 15.4% of national health expenditures. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] More than 50,000 older male veterans incarcerated in prisons are expected to return to their communities and utilize the Veterans Health Administration and community healthcare systems. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Heatwaves are among the deadliest natural hazards worldwide and are already placing growing pressure on power grids, water resources, agriculture, and public health across the Middle East and Mediterranean. EurekAlert!
• [New] As awareness of mental health continues to grow worldwide, meditation is expected to remain one of the most widely practiced tools for stress reduction, self-improvement, and emotional well-being. Mindmember Discount
• [New] The International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade is a global, interdisciplinary network of over 180 organizations and more than 500 experts working to prevent pathogen spillover by bridging science, policy and practice. International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife
• [New] A growing number of people are using AI for medical guidance, increasing risks from AI systems providing inaccurate or misleading information (Bean et al, 2026). GOV.UK
• [New] Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest regional growth through 2033 due to expanding healthcare access, rising antibiotic consumption, and increasing prevalence of resistant bacterial infections. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The World Health Organization has unveiled new guidance for governments seeking to protect people from extreme heat, a growing priority as climate change pushes temperatures higher worldwide and intensifies heatwaves and related health risks. Climate Home News
• [New] As wildfire risks continue to grow across Texas, Fort Worth officials are expanding the use of prescribed burns to manage vegetation and improve ecosystem health. Texas Standard
• [New] Among the eight available full texts, Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria, and Uganda stand out as partners facing particularly high cofinancing expectations, as their MOU domestic commitments outpace the health budget growth projected by IHME. Think Global Health
• [New] Liberia and Mozambique expect overall declines in annual health spending - even as both increase their domestic contributions. Think Global Health
• [New] Ethiopia's health budget will peak in 2028 and drop steadily through 2030, while Rwanda's will more than double from 2026 to 2027, only to decline sharply. Think Global Health
• [New] While Nigeria's and Uganda's total health budgets rise steadily before flattening at their tail ends, co-investments in Ethiopia and Rwanda will fluctuate. Think Global Health
• [New] Health co-investments from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda are modestly larger in 2030 than in 2026. Think Global Health
• [New] Some countries expecting to increase their total health co-investments-combined domestic and U.S. spending-will experience budget fluctuations each year under the MOUs, which could disrupt program continuity. Think Global Health
• [New] Despite committing to co-invest a substantial $3 billion, Nigeria expects to increase its health spending as a proportion of its national budget only marginally, from 5% as proposed in its 2025 budget to at least 6% from 2026 to 2030. Think Global Health
• [New] Some countries, such as Liberia, could face significant year-over-year drops in U.S. funding for health alongside sharp increases in cofinancing expectations that exceed previous spending projections. Think Global Health
• [New] After a year of dissolving the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), withdrawing from the World Health Organization, and reducing foreign assistance for health, the Trump administration is finalizing bilateral arrangements that will define the next era of U.S. global health engagement. Think Global Health

Last updated: 19 June 2026