Articles about Health

• Heartland Forward-commissioned research released March 19 reveals broad U.S. consensus on maternal health priorities and actionable steps forward. • Conducted in Bentonville, Ark., the poll finds Americans ready to address maternal care gaps nationwide. • Results point to unified public support for policy and community interventions to boost outcomes.

Chair Heather Hallett says pandemic had devastating impact due to NHS being in ‘parlous state’ at timeThe NHS “teetered on the brink of collapse” during the Covid pandemic, and only just coped thanks to the “superhuman” efforts of healthcare workers, an official inquiry has concluded.In a damning assessment of how the UK’s healthcare systems coped with the pandemic, the Covid-19 inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, said the impact was “devastating” due to the NHS being in a “parlous state” before the outbreak of the virus.The NHS entered the pandemic with low bed numbers, high numbers of staff vacancies and high bed occupancy, meaning it was already in a “precarious position” and ill-prepared to deal with a pandemic.There was not enough PPE at the start of the pandemic, meaning healthcare workers had to put themselves and their families at risk to care for patients.Infection control in the early stages of the pandemic was flawed as it assumed Covid-19 was spread by physical contact, rather than being airborne.The “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” public message may have inadvertently led to a decline in hospital attendance of life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks.80% of healthcare professionals said they acted in a way that conflicted with their values during the pandemic, with some saying they felt they were “playing God” as they were unable to give everyone the treatment they needed. Continue reading...

• Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Northwestern Universities conclude insurer consolidation boosts health insurance premiums in US markets. • About 238 million Americans, or 78% of those insured, rely on private health insurance, increasingly concentrated with examples in Medicare Advantage drawing antitrust attention. • The analysis urges regulation and oversight to address market imperfections from asymmetric information and market power.

There is growing confidence that the 20 people diagnosed with the illness have not infected anyone outside the areaHealth officials increasingly believe they have contained the fatal outbreak of meningitis in Kent, with no cases emerging that are not linked to the original cluster of 20.In another boost to efforts to contain the infection, the bug that caused it has been identified as a known strain of meningitis B, the Guardian understands. Continue reading...

• Health workers in Massachusetts lobby for bill making assaults on staff felonies, approved by House last November awaiting Senate vote by July 31. • Violence surged post-COVID per surveys; bill mandates hospitals assess risks and implement ongoing safety policies. • "Health care workers don't feel supported," says Cambridge Health Alliance nursing officer; Sen. Joan Lovely optimistic for passage to reduce assaults.

• Federal grant funding for FQHCs stayed flat from 2019-2023 while health care costs rose over 25%, leading to negative margins of 2.1% by 2024. • An estimated 11.8 million Americans will lose Medicaid coverage due to $344 billion cuts over the next decade, overwhelming FQHCs with uninsured patients. • Recent closures include a New Hampshire rural site in 2025 and six South Carolina locations last year due to shortfalls.

The cases recorded so far have all been linked to a nightclub popular with students in Canterbury on 5-7 MarchTwo young people have died in an outbreak of meningitis in Kent as private supplies of vaccines run out. Here’s what we know about how the disease spread and what the authorities did to tackle it. Continue reading...

International researchers find ‘very little evidence’ medical form of the drug can treat anxiety, anorexia and other disordersCannabis is not an effective treatment for common mental health conditions despite the global surge in patients using it for that purpose, a review has found.Researchers concluded there was “very little evidence for its efficacy” in treating anxiety, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder or opioid use disorder. Continue reading...

• On March 3, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee convened a hearing titled 'Less Hype, More Help: AI That Improves Safety, Productivity, and Care' to explore AI's role in enhancing quality of life, jobs, and economic growth. • The hearings underscore Congress's ongoing focus on AI use across sectors, including healthcare, as a major priority for policy. • Recent congressional attention highlights the Administration's interest in regulating AI to balance innovation and safety.

Share of 16- to 24-year-old Neets who report a work-limiting condition up 70% in a decade, says thinktankThere has been a sharp rise in the number of jobless young people in the UK citing health problems as the reason they are not working, according to analysis.The share of 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training – known as Neets – who reported a work-limiting condition has surged by 70% in a decade, a charity thinktank found. Continue reading...

• Governor Abigail Spanberger praised the 2026 General Assembly's passage of bills reducing heating costs (HB2, SB72), establishing a Weatherization Task Force (HB3, SB5), empowering localities on affordable housing (HB4), and improving renter protections (HB15, SB48). • Additional successes include eliminating healthcare premium fees (HB220, SB630), promoting portable solar systems (HB395, SB250), optimizing grid utilization (HB434, SB621), expanding the Eviction Reduction Program (HB527, SB628), limiting prior authorizations (HB736), and boosting healthcare workforce access (HB815, SB405). • Further measures allow communities to adopt affordable housing programs (HB867, SB74), improve power forecasting (HB892), and increase energy storage deployment (HB895, SB448) to lower costs for Virginians.

The facility was attacked on Friday night, bringing the toll of medical staff to 31 killed in past 12 daysIsrael killed 12 medical workers in a strike on a medical centre in south Lebanon on Friday night, bringing the toll of healthcare staff killed in the country by Israel to 31 over the past 12 days.A primary healthcare facility in the town of Burj Qalaouiyah was struck by Israeli rockets late on Friday, setting it ablaze and causing the structure to collapse on top of the staff inside. The strike killed doctors, paramedics and nurses on duty, according to the Lebanese ministry of health, which said it “violated all international humanitarian laws” in a statement. Continue reading...

California's 2024 Proposition 1 mental health bond has failed to open ten promised treatment centers as of March 2026, despite initial assurances of rapid deployment. The California Department of Health Care Services attributed delays to permitting issues, site conditions, and supply-chain strain from President Trump's tariffs, though officials stated most construction remains on schedule. The $6.4 billion measure was designed to expand mental health treatment capacity, but the implementation setbacks raise questions about the state's ability to address its growing mental health crisis.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, with the CDC identifying colorectal cancer as the third most common cancer for both men and women in the United States. Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Julia Zumpano emphasized that a healthy, diverse microbiome reduces inflammation, which is linked to increased colorectal cancer risk, and recommended dietary changes including high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes alongside fermented and probiotic foods such as yogurt and kimchi. In addition to dietary modifications, regular physical activity has been shown to reduce colorectal cancer risk, though individuals experiencing persistent gastrointestinal symptoms should seek medical attention. The preventive approach focuses on gradual lifestyle transitions rather than overwhelming dietary overhauls.

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center has dramatically improved staff retention by reducing nursing turnover from 46% to approximately 4% through enhanced recruitment and community engagement strategies, as reported by CEO Rodney Reider on March 14, 2026. The health system hired 93 new providers and 40 additional nurses while adding nearly 160 beds to expand capacity and reduce emergency department wait times to 11–14 minutes on average. These infrastructure investments include new anesthesia machines, advanced imaging technology, and newly opened Cancer and Cardiovascular Centers, addressing critical workforce challenges that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic when many nurses pursued travel opportunities. The improvements demonstrate how hospitals can retain staff by reinforcing community connections and workplace belonging beyond physical facilities.

This International Women's Day, we should prioritise groundbreaking research into women's health, such as strengthening the reproductive system's natural defences, says Anita Zaidi

Programme which supports schemes in six African countries was previously hailed as vital protection for Britain against future pandemicsA flagship health project in Africa, which UK ministers said would play a vital role in protecting Britain from future pandemic threats, is being axed due to aid cuts, the Guardian can reveal.The Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) which supported development and training for healthcare staff in six African countries, will close at the end of the month, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Guardian investigation finds data from flagship medical research leaked dozens of timesConfidential health data has been exposed online on dozens of occasions, a Guardian investigation can reveal, raising questions about the safeguarding of patient records by one of the UK’s flagship medical research projects.UK Biobank, which holds the medical records of 500,000 British volunteers, is one of the world’s most comprehensive stores of health information and is credited with driving breakthroughs in cancer, dementia and diabetes research. But scientists approved to access Biobank’s sensitive data appear to have sometimes been cavalier about its security. Continue reading...

GLP-1 drugs, once primarily used for diabetes treatment, have demonstrated impressive effectiveness in treating obesity, which affects over 100 million Americans, according to PBS NewsHour reporting. The class of medications is generating significant clinical interest as researchers explore both the therapeutic benefits and potential risks associated with their use. Medical experts including Dr. Jody Dushay, Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, Dr. Anna Lembke, and Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly discussed the promise of these drugs alongside concerns about safety and long-term outcomes in recent coverage.

Microsoft launched Copilot Health on March 13, 2026, an AI tool designed to organize users' medical records, health histories, and fitness tracker data into coherent summaries for doctor consultations. The product integrates data from wearables and electronic health records to provide personalized health insights ahead of appointments. This move highlights Big Tech's aggressive expansion into the $4 trillion US healthcare market, emphasizing AI's role in sensitive consumer domains. Industry analysts predict it could streamline patient-doctor interactions, though privacy concerns remain prominent.

A University of Pennsylvania Annenberg survey reveals only 11% of Americans would follow CDC over American Academy of Pediatrics on vaccine recommendations, signaling severe public health alarm fatigue. RFK Jr.'s leadership gutted the childhood immunization schedule from 17 to 11 vaccines, terminated $500 million in mRNA research contracts, and oversaw 2,200 measles cases with three deaths in 2025, risking loss of elimination status achieved in 2000. CDC trust plummeted from 75% to 60% in one year due to political leadership, though two-thirds still trust career scientists. Protocols are shifting as 77% prefer AAP guidance on vaccinations.

The American Council on Science and Health lists 16 landmark public health achievements, including George Washington's 1777 order for Continental Army smallpox inoculations that saved forces from a disease killing 10 soldiers per battle death. Polio cases sharply declined after Jonas Salk's 1955 vaccine was deemed safe, with Albert Sabin's 1960s oral version enabling community-wide protection. CDC identified initial AIDS clusters in 1981 among young men; by 1996, NIH-supported combination antiretroviral therapy turned HIV into a manageable condition, bolstered by US companies like Gilead and PEPFAR in 2003. These advances revolutionized medicine from antibiotics to organ transplants and birth control.