Health

• Het ochtendoverzicht van KFF Health News van 14 mei 2026 signaleert meerdere Amerikaanse gezondheidsbeleidskwesties, waaronder berichten dat de regering-Trump Medicaid-gegevens eist voor gebruik bij deportaties. • Het overzicht wijst lezers daarnaast op de berichtgeving over “License To Deliver”, waarin wordt onderzocht hoe sommige vroedvrouwen helpen bij thuisbevallingen terwijl ze buiten de staatswetgeving opereren. • Dit overzicht is van belang omdat het snel evoluerende kwesties samenbrengt op het snijvlak van volksgezondheid, immigratiehandhaving en moederzorg, die allen invloed kunnen hebben op patiënten en zorgverleners in het hele land.

Celeste Calocane legt voor het eerst getuigenis af tijdens het onderzoek naar de aanslagen van Valdo Calocane in 2023

• Medicare heeft de aanmeldingen van hospice- en thuiszorginstellingen al gepauzeerd terwijl mogelijke fraude wordt onderzocht. • JD Vance heeft gedreigd de federale financiering voor overheidszorgverzekeringsprogramma's "uit te schakelen" in staten die weigeren mee te werken aan de aanpak van vermoedelijke fraude door de regering-Trump. • Staten die niet "serieus worden」 over fraude zouden Medicaid- en Medicare-financiering verliezen, kondigde de vicepresident van de VS woensdag aan, wat leidde tot nieuwe beschuldigingen dat Trump-functionarissen ongefundeerde beweringen gebruiken om politieke rivalen te straffen.

• Elias Calocane zegt dat hij dacht dat gewelddadige berichten van zijn broer betrekking hadden op suïcidale gedachten en niet op het schaden van anderen • De jongere broer van Valdo Calocane, die drie mensen doodde bij een aanval in Nottingham, verklaarde dat hij zich "machteloos" voelde over de psychische problemen van zijn broer en geloofde dat gewelddadige berichten die zijn broer had gestuurd over suïcidale gedachten gingen. • Valdo Calocane, bij wie in 2020 een diagnose van paranoïde schizofrenie werd gesteld, stak op 13 juni 2023 Barnaby Webber en Grace O’Malley-Kumar, beiden 19 jaar, en conciërge Ian Coates, 65 jaar, dood, en verwondde drie anderen ernstig.

Koning Charles onthult overheidsagenda voor het komende jaar terwijl de premier geconfronteerd wordt met een dreiging voor zijn leiderschap binnen Labour • Britse politiek live – laatste updates Keir Starmer heeft langbeloofde wijzigingen in het onderwijs, de zorg en de rechtspraak centraal gesteld in zijn agenda voor het komende jaar, terwijl de omstreden premier probeert te bewijzen dat hij de schaal van verandering kan doorvoeren die door Labour-parlementsleden en kiezers wordt geëist. De premier onthulde woensdag zijn wetgevende programma voor de volgende parlementaire sessie, een moment waarvan hij hoopt dat het twijfelende Labour-parlementsleden zal overtuigen dat hij in functie moet blijven. Lees verder...

• U.S. News & World Report publiceerde op 12 mei 2026 zijn vierde jaarlijkse ranglijst van beste OTC-medicijnen & gezondheidsproducten, waarbij merken werden geëvalueerd in categorieën variërend van supplementen tot huidverzorging en menopauseproducten. • Nature Made stond bovenaan de lijst met 12 nr. 1-producten, gevolgd door CeraVe met 6 en La Roche-Posay met 4; bedrijven als Haleon, Pharmavite, Kenvue, L'Oreal en Prestige Consumer Healthcare domineerden de topklassmenten. • De ranglijsten bieden consumentenbegeleiding over receptvrije gezondheidsproducten te midden van de stijgende vraag naar gespecialiseerde supplementen zoals collageen en hulpmiddelen voor de menopauze.

• Onderzoek wijst uit dat ethyleenoxide (EtO) ongeveer 60 keer kankerverwekkender is dan in 2006 werd gedacht • Een nieuw plan van de regering-Trump om de regelgeving uit 2024 voor giftige ethyleenoxide (EtO)-vervuiling in te trekken, is breder bedoeld om de bevoegdheid van de Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) te beperken om de bescherming van de volksgezondheid rondom gevaarlijke emissies te versterken, en zou kunnen leiden tot de uitstoot van meer van het toxine in de lucht. • Recent onderzoek heeft aangetoond dat EtO ongeveer 60 keer kankerverwekkender is dan men dacht toen de laatste regelgeving in 2006 werd ontwikkeld. In 2024 voerde de Biden-EPA een regel in die de regelgeving verscherpte om de bijgewerkte wetenschap weerspiegelen, en vereiste dat de EtO-uitstoters in het land hun emissies collectief met ongeveer 90% zouden verminderen. Lees verder...

• De regering-Trump kondigde begin deze maand aan dat honderden babyvoedingmonsters die werden getest op giftige chemicaliën "voldoen aan een hoge veiligheidsstandaard", maar publieke gezondheidsvoorlichters waarschuwen dat deze claim in strijd is met gegevens die aantonen dat een meerderheid besmet was met gevaarlijke stoffen, zoals Pfas of ftalaten. • Onafhankelijke wetenschappers die de resultaten hebben beoordeeld, stellen dat de hiaten in de gegevens en de besmetting zorgen baren, hoewel zij toevoegden dat de testen ook enkele positieve punten laten zien en de US Food and Drug Administration prezen voor het uitbreiden van het testprogramma en het openbaar maken van de resultaten.

• "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" actress Tatyana Ali, 47, is using her platform to raise awareness about Black maternal health disparities following a distressing childbirth experience with her son. • During her labor, doctors made a jarring decision mid-delivery that Ali describes as a traumatic moment that highlighted systemic healthcare inequities. • Ali's advocacy efforts aim to amplify conversations around maternal mortality and healthcare quality for Black women, drawing from her personal medical journey.

• Actor Ted Danson shared on his podcast 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' that a recent health scare made him reassess his life priorities. • Speaking with guest Valerie Bertinelli, Danson described the incident as 'very liberating,' confirming he is now 'totally fine.' • The 'A Man on the Inside' star emphasized the scare felt 'real,' leading him to start 'doing some things differently.'

British Medical Association says review into gender identity services was ‘robust’ after previously rejecting findingsThe trade union representing doctors across the UK has dropped its opposition to the findings of the Cass review of gender identity services across the NHS.The British Medical Association (BMA) had previously rejected the findings of the landmark review of transgender healthcare, with the medical body refusing to endorse the report’s findings. Continue reading...

• Polomar Health Services (OTCQB: PMHS) disclosed a $10.7 million net loss for fiscal year 2025 in its annual 10-K filing with the SEC. • The filing raises substantial going-concern doubts due to ongoing losses, telehealth partner setbacks, and liquidity issues. • Company plans a merger with Altanine that would dilute existing shareholders to approximately 20% ownership post-deal.

• A KFF poll reveals 41% of US adults back the MAHA agenda amid rising healthcare concerns ahead of midterms. • 55% of respondents stated healthcare costs will have a 'major impact' on their voting decisions, outpacing food policy issues. • The survey, conducted recently, carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, highlighting voter priorities in public health policy.

• The Trump administration's Department of Health and Human Services notified hospitals and nursing homes on May 4, 2026, to prioritize 'real food' over sugary drinks and dietary supplements in patient meals. • The policy shift faced immediate backlash from healthcare providers concerned about implementation and patient preferences. • This agenda aims to combat diet-related diseases amid rising obesity rates, potentially affecting millions of inpatients annually.

The 80-year-old singer will not be performing rescheduled dates in September but assured fans she is receiving treatment and ‘improving every day’Dolly Parton has canceled her Las Vegas residency over ongoing health issues.The 80-year-old singer had originally been scheduled to perform six shows at Caesar’s Palace last December but moved the dates to September 2026. She has now announced on social media that she won’t be able to perform as planned. Continue reading...

Exclusive: amid unrest, President William Ruto promised to give all Kenyans access to healthcare. But the algorithm favours the rich, an investigation has found An AI system used to predict how much Kenyans can afford to pay for access to healthcare, has systemically driven up costs for the poor, an investigation has found.The healthcare system being rolled out across the country, a key electoral promise of President William Ruto, was launched in October 2024 and intended to replace Kenya’s decades-old national insurance system. Continue reading...

Investigators find explosives in car, which crashed into Multnomah Athletic Club shortly before 3am SaturdayA person was found dead after a vehicle plowed into a health club in downtown Portland, Oregon, early Saturday morning, police said. Investigators later found explosives inside the car.Portland police and the Portland fire and rescue department responded to the Multnomah Athletic Club shortly before 3am after the vehicle crashed through the front entrance and caught fire. Once the blaze was brought under control, a person was found dead inside the vehicle, police said in a statement. Continue reading...

WHO prequalification of Coartem Baby means newborns can be safely treated rather than using medication for older childrenThe first malaria treatment for babies has been approved by the World Health Organization, opening the door to widespread use around the globe.In parts of Africa, up to 18% of children under six months will be infected with malaria, but there has historically been no safe treatment for the smallest of them. There were 610,000 deaths from malaria in 2024, about three quarters of which were under-fives in Africa. Continue reading...

• The American Heart Association released a Presidential Advisory on April 30, 2026, declaring U.S. health care affordability at a crisis point due to rising costs driven by chronic diseases. • Costs are forcing Americans to delay or avoid care, worsening health outcomes and increasing medical debt; a Gallup survey shows widespread worry about accessing affordable care. • A McLaughlin & Associates poll found 51% of voters cite health insurance as their top concern, followed by hospital bills (11%) and medicine costs (10%).

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults worry about affording health care costs, with 30% very worried, topping affordability concerns over gas prices. • Health care affordability remains the public's primary worry despite other economic pressures. • Poll highlights ongoing financial strain on households amid rising medical expenses.

Patrick Vallance says government working with Chinese officials to remove postings from Alibaba after Biobank data breach last weekThere have been further listings of confidential health records of UK volunteers on the Chinese website Alibaba since the breach reported last week and the government is braced for further leaks, the science minister has said.Addressing a House of Lords debate on the attempted sale of data belonging to 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers, Patrick Vallance said the government has worked with Chinese officials to remove additional postings on the online marketplace. Continue reading...

• A new report from Harris County Public Health reveals Houston has the highest tuberculosis rates in Texas, highlighting urban transmission risks. • The data shows elevated cases linked to dense populations and socioeconomic factors in the Houston area. • Rising TB incidence demands targeted screening and treatment expansions to curb spread in high-risk communities.

• A majority of Americans express concern over rising healthcare costs and support increased federal tax spending to address these challenges, according to the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index released March 17, 2026. • The poll demonstrates bipartisan support for government action on healthcare affordability, reflecting widespread concern among the U.S. public about escalating medical expenses. • Americans also show increased trust in government handling of childhood vaccination decisions, signaling broader public confidence in health policy interventions.

• 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...

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...

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...