Gaps

Ministers drawing up contingency plans for ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’ if supply of CO2 is disruptedBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK could face some gaps on supermarket shelves this summer if disruption caused by the Iran war continues, with shortages of carbon dioxide potentially hitting supplies of chicken, pork and fizzy drinks.Government ministers are reportedly drawing up contingency plans for a “reasonable worst-case scenario” if the key shipping lane of the strait of Hormuz does not reopen, disrupting supplies of the CO2 required by the food industry. Continue reading...

• Following the closure of a rural Texas hospital, a local health center has expanded services to prevent care deserts for patients now traveling miles across county lines. • The initiative addresses immediate gaps in primary and emergency care in underserved areas, maintaining access for vulnerable populations. • Rural hospital closures exacerbate public health challenges, with this response demonstrating community health centers' role in continuity.

• Recent research links extreme heat exposure, gaps in obesity coaching, cancer treatment delays, ACA premium cost spikes, and income inequality to widening health disparities across the US. • These factors exacerbate vulnerabilities in underserved populations, with global implications but focused US data. • Findings underscore needs for targeted interventions in public health equity amid rising climate and economic pressures.

Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death for adults under 50 in the United States, yet a national survey by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance reveals only half of Americans know about convenient at-home screening options available to them. The survey found that nearly one-third of all Americans and almost half of adults under 45 reported doctors dismissing their stomach or bowel symptoms, indicating potential gaps in clinical recognition of warning signs in younger populations. More than one-quarter of adults don't follow through with recommended screening, with cost, fear, and lack of knowledge cited as primary barriers, though over 60 percent of respondents indicated they would pursue screening with better understanding of personal risk factors. March has been designated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to address these critical knowledge gaps and encourage adoption of accessible screening methods.