Health

• अमेरिकन हार्ट एसोसिएशन ने 30 अप्रैल, 2026 को एक Presidential Advisory जारी की, जिसमें पुरानी बीमारियों के कारण बढ़ती लागत की वजह से अमेरिकी स्वास्थ्य देखभाल की सामर्थ्यता को संकट के बिंदु पर घोषित किया गया है। • लागतों के कारण अमेरिकी इलाज में देरी करने या उससे बचने के लिए मजबूर हो रहे हैं, जिससे स्वास्थ्य परिणाम खराब हो रहे हैं और चिकित्सा ऋण बढ़ रहा है; एक Gallup सर्वेक्षण सस्ती देखभाल तक पहुँच के बारे में व्यापक चिंता को दर्शाता है। • McLaughlin & Associates के एक सर्वेक्षण में पाया गया कि 51% मतदाता स्वास्थ्य बीमा को अपनी शीर्ष चिंता बताते हैं, इसके बाद अस्पताल के बिल (11%) और दवाओं की लागत (10%) का स्थान है।

• लगभग दो-तिहाई (64%) अमेरिकी वयस्क स्वास्थ्य देखभाल लागत वहन करने के बारे में चिंतित हैं, जिनमें से 30% बहुत अधिक चिंतित हैं, जो गैस की कीमतों की तुलना में सामर्थ्य संबंधी चिंताओं में सबसे ऊपर है। • अन्य आर्थिक दबावों के बावजूद स्वास्थ्य देखभाल की किफ़ायत (affordability) जनता की प्राथमिक चिंता बनी हुई है। • यह सर्वेक्षण बढ़ते चिकित्सा खर्चों के बीच परिवारों पर जारी वित्तीय तनाव को उजागर करता है।

Patrick Vallance का कहना है कि पिछले हफ्ते Biobank डेटा ब्रीच के बाद सरकार Alibaba से पोस्टिंग हटाने के लिए चीनी अधिकारियों के साथ मिलकर काम कर रही है। विज्ञान मंत्री ने कहा है कि पिछले हफ्ते रिपोर्ट किए गए ब्रीच के बाद से चीनी वेबसाइट Alibaba पर UK के स्वयंसेवकों के गोपनीय स्वास्थ्य रिकॉर्ड की और लिस्टिंग देखी गई है और सरकार आगामी लीक्स के लिए तैयार है। 500,000 UK Biobank स्वयंसेवकों के डेटा की बिक्री की कोशिश पर House of Lords की बहस को संबोधित करते हुए, Patrick Vallance ने कहा कि सरकार ने ऑनलाइन मार्केटप्लेस पर अतिरिक्त पोस्टिंग को हटाने के लिए चीनी अधिकारियों के साथ काम किया है। पढ़ना जारी रखें...

• Harris County Public Health की एक नई रिपोर्ट से पता चलता है कि Houston में Texas में सबसे अधिक Tuberculosis दर है, जो शहरी transmission risks को उजागर करती है। • डेटा Houston क्षेत्र में घनी आबादी और socioeconomic factors से जुड़े बढ़े हुए cases को दर्शाता है। • बढ़ता TB incidence उच्च जोखिम वाले समुदायों में प्रसार को रोकने के लिए targeted screening और treatment expansions की मांग करता है।

• 17 मार्च, 2026 को जारी Axios/Ipsos American Health Index के अनुसार, अधिकांश अमेरिकी स्वास्थ्य सेवा की बढ़ती लागतों पर चिंता व्यक्त करते हैं और इन चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए संघीय कर खर्च में वृद्धि का समर्थन करते हैं। • यह सर्वेक्षण स्वास्थ्य सेवा की affordability पर सरकारी कार्रवाई के लिए द्विपक्षीय समर्थन को दर्शाता है, जो बढ़ते चिकित्सा खर्चों के बारे में अमेरिकी जनता के बीच व्यापक चिंता को प्रतिबिंबित करता है। • अमेरिकियों ने बचपन के टीकाकरण निर्णयों के सरकारी प्रबंधन में भी बढ़ा हुआ विश्वास दिखाया है, जो health policy interventions में व्यापक सार्वजनिक विश्वास का संकेत देता है।

• The Taliban government announced restrictions on international health NGOs operating in Afghanistan on Monday, citing concerns over 'political interference' and threatening revocation of licenses for non-compliant organizations. • Medical organizations warned that the restrictions would devastate maternal and pediatric health services, particularly in rural areas where international agencies provide 70 percent of healthcare capacity. • The U.S. State Department condemned the move as undermining humanitarian efforts and expressed concern for vulnerable populations, with officials exploring alternative delivery mechanisms for critical medical assistance.

• Florida's KidCare expansion remains stalled in legal limbo since February 2024, preventing coverage for more children. • Uninsured children in the state have risen to 400,000, one of the highest tallies nationwide. • Delay exacerbates access issues as federal funds await resolution, impacting low-income families significantly.

Half of respondents to RCN poll said patients ‘frequently come to harm’ because caseloads are too highMental health patients in the UK are routinely coming to harm because of high caseloads, understaffing and overwhelming administrative work, according to a poll that found only a fifth of specialist nurses felt their workload was manageable.Prof Nicola Ranger, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said mental health nurses were caught in a “perfect storm” and unable to keep up with rising demand, with patients paying the price by missing out on crucial care. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Health Foundation says Britain is ‘going backwards’ compared with most other rich countriesFindings on healthy life expectancy in UK shed light on its deteriorating healthPeople in the UK are spending fewer years in good health than a decade ago, prompting concern that the population’s health is “going backwards”.The sharp decline in Britain’s healthy life expectancy, the amount of time someone spends free of illness or disability, is in sharp contrast to its recent rise in most other rich countries globally. Continue reading...

Metric gives fuller picture than life expectancy, which is simply how long people live, says Health Foundation People in UK spend fewer years in good health than a decade ago, study findsThe obesity crisis, the record 2.8 million working-age Britons too sick to do so and the rising prevalence of mental illness are sobering reminders that the UK population’s health is not good.But even for those familiar with this troubling situation, the Health Foundation’s analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics figures on healthy life expectancy sheds uncomfortable new light on the country’s poor and deteriorating health. Continue reading...

The Israeli government and Hezbollah have traded blame over breaches to the truce, which is set to run for several more weeksLebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed 14 people on Sunday, the deadliest day since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into force over a week ago.The health ministry said the dead on Sunday included two women and two children, adding that 37 other people were wounded. Israel said one of its soldiers was also killed. Continue reading...

Experts report more young people with conditions such as bunions after wearing shoes that are too small or narrowParents should care for their children’s feet in the same way as their eyes and teeth, according to footwear specialists who say they are seeing more young people with painful conditions such as bunions.Bunions are bony lumps on the side of the foot. People can be genetically pre-disposed but ill-fitting shoes are seen as an aggravating factor. Continue reading...

• The Alabama Department of Corrections terminated its $1 billion health care contract with Tennessee-based YesCare for failure to adequately fulfill contractual duties. • The contract, awarded in 2023 as a 5-year agreement, was dissolved due to the company's inability to meet performance standards for prison health services. • The termination raises questions about oversight of private contractors providing essential health care services within the correctional system.

• CrowdStrike disclosed on April 25, 2026, a sophisticated cyberattack via compromised third-party software affecting 2.5 million patient records at UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare subsidiary. • Attackers, linked to North Korean Lazarus Group, exfiltrated data over 72 hours before detection, demanding $22 million ransom. • Incident highlights vulnerabilities in US healthcare IT supply chains, prompting HHS emergency directives for 500+ providers.

• Public health officials confirmed two cases of measles in Sacramento County, California, amid ongoing monitoring for potential spread. • The cases highlight persistent risks despite national vaccination efforts, with officials urging unvaccinated residents to seek immunization. • Measles outbreaks underscore gaps in herd immunity, particularly in localized communities, prompting heightened surveillance statewide.

Tom Kean, who has not voted since 5 March and whose seat is top Democratic target, due back ‘very soon’, speaker saysA vulnerable Republican congressman who has not voted in weeks “is attending to a personal health matter,” the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, said on Friday as he struggles to maintain his historically small majority in Congress’s lower chamber.Tom Kean Jr’s New Jersey district is a top pickup target for Democrats in the November midterms, but the congressman has not cast a vote in the House since 5 March. Continue reading...

• Power Solutions International reduced its debt-to-equity ratio from 2,140% to 54.6% over five years, signaling substantial improvement in financial health. • The company achieved 64.5% earnings growth last year, outpacing the electrical industry average of 21.4%. • Despite recent share price volatility, the company's financial restructuring and strong earnings demonstrate improved operational performance.

Technology minister tells Commons ‘de-identified’ information from UK Biobank advertised for sale on AlibabaUK politics live – latest updatesThe confidential health records of half a million British volunteers have been offered for sale on Chinese website Alibaba, the UK government has confirmed.The data, belonging to participants in the UK Biobank project, was found for sale on three separate listings last week. The records have now been removed and it is not believed any sales were made. Continue reading...

Trade body warns that changes are likely to drive up costs and push pupils to find somewhere to buy junk food Business live – latest updatesA government push to get schoolchildren eating more lentils, pulses and beans at lunch could have a “devastating effect”, making catering services unviable, school meal providers have warned.Proposals for healthier meals in English schools, which would limit the amount of desserts and reduce “grab-and-go” items such as pizzas and sausage rolls, would pile pressure on an already struggling sector, caterers said. Continue reading...

• Treehub launched on April 22, 2026, as a Stanford-adjacent residency program in Los Altos, California, backed by the AI Health Fund and investors including Tim Draper and 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki. • The program functions as a venture studio, incubator, and fund, offering scientist-founders proprietary medical data, mentorship from exited startup operators, and programming with payers and investors. • It targets precision outcomes like genomic risk stratification, care efficiency via ambient intelligence, and frontier science including robotic surgery and digital twins.

• The FDA granted accelerated approval to a CRISPR-based gene therapy for severe sickle cell disease on April 20, marking the first approved genetic treatment editing patient blood cells to produce functional hemoglobin. • Clinical trials demonstrated 95% of treated patients experienced elimination or near-elimination of vaso-occlusive crises within 12 months, with durable responses observed for over two years post-treatment. • The therapy addresses a disease affecting approximately 100,000 Americans, primarily of African descent, offering potential cure for patients previously reliant on pain management and blood transfusions.

Growing use of AI tech comes at expense of workers’ rights, protections and pay, report warnsBillion-dollar tech platforms are aggressively pushing for deregulation of the “Uber for nursing” industry in an effort to expand gig work in the healthcare sector, according to a report published Tuesday.The report from the AI Now Institute, Uber for Nursing Part II: How Gig Nursing Companies Are Lobbying States to Deregulate Healthcare, examines the use of artificial intelligence to staff hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Continue reading...

Secretary Kennedy Podcast so far seems designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health messageRobert F Kennedy Jr’s new Secretary Kennedy Podcast is a show that, so far, appears designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health message.Though, based on the trailer and episode one, which dropped last week, one might expect the Secretary Kennedy Podcast to be quite similar to the health secretary’s former show, The RFK Jr Podcast. In the trailer that dropped ahead of his new podcast’s release, Kennedy says: “Children are sicker, chronic disease is exploding and the answers we’ve been given aren’t working” – talking points that were common on his old series. He even adds: “Many of us have come to the conclusion that the government actually lies to us,” a statement that might have served his former podcast better, given that Kennedy is now a senior figure in the government. Continue reading...

• The FDA announced it will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelic drugs next week, marking the first time the agency has fast-tracked any psychedelics for review under Trump's executive order on mental health reform. • The vouchers can compress FDA review timelines from several months to just weeks, according to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, if the drugs align with national priorities. • Trump's order directs $50 million in federal funding to states developing psychedelic treatment programs and establishes a federal-state partnership for technical assistance and data sharing.

• President Trump signed an executive order directing federal regulators to fast-track FDA review of psychedelic drugs including psilocybin and ibogaine for treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD. • The order allocates $50 million in federal funds to states implementing or developing psychedelic treatment programs as part of a federal-state partnership initiative. • Trump highlighted that over 14 million American adults have serious mental illness, with approximately 8 million on prescription medication, framing psychedelics as addressing a national mental health crisis including suicide prevention.

• President Donald Trump announced Dr. Jennifer Shuford, Texas' top public health official and infectious disease physician, as his nominee for CDC chief medical officer on Thursday via Truth Social. • Shuford oversaw the country's largest measles outbreak in 30 years; other nominees include Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, Sean Slovenski as deputy director and COO, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. • The appointments aim to reshape CDC leadership amid ongoing public health challenges in the US.

The magazine company is also shuttering some editions of Allure, Glamour and Wired deemed to be unprofitableCondé Nast is planning to shutter Self, its women’s health magazine, after 47 years.In a memo published on the magazine giant’s website on Thursday, the CEO Roger Lynch explained the decision by saying: “As audience behaviors shift, we have not seen a path for Self to continue in its current form as a digital publication.” Continue reading...

• McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston launched the Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease, a multidisciplinary center bringing together experts in medicine, science, and engineering to transform understanding and treatment of the condition. • A major research focus involves recreating early human heart development using stem cells and bioprinted structures to study how congenital defects form. • The center bridges discovery and clinical care by advancing research, developing technologies, and translating innovations into patient treatment solutions across a lifetime of care.

Transfer of medical services from hospital to former Wilko store is improving healthcare access and boosting footfallIt is a revolution that might just save the NHS – and the high street. Imagine being able to have your eyes tested, mole examined or get an appointment with a consultant without going to your local hospital – and maybe fit in some shopping or a cinema visit afterwards.That, increasingly, is what people in Barnsley are doing after an unprecedented relocation of medical services from the district general hospital into a purpose-built outpatients centre in the Alhambra shopping centre, which is getting a new lease of life thanks to the experiment. Continue reading...