Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told CDC staff that the U.S. would have done better in the Covid outbreak by listening to alternative voices, speaking at a memorial for last year's shooting at the agency.
The Albanese government has released updated national guidelines recommending prostate cancer checks every two years for Australian men aged 50 to 69, marking the biggest changes to screening protocols in a decade and aimed at earlier detection of the country's most common cancer in men.
Public Citizen alleges that a little-noticed Medicare rule change will exempt AbbVie's pancreatic insufficiency drug Creon from price negotiations for seven extra years, potentially costing taxpayers billions. The controversy emerges amid broader debates over Medicare drug pricing policies and their fiscal impact.
Physicians for Human Rights Israel released a report warning that the Palestinian public healthcare system in the occupied West Bank is on the brink of collapse, citing Israel's withholding of tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority as pushing hospitals and clinics to crisis point.
A randomized controlled trial conducted through the NHS in England found that a single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, produced significant improvements in depression symptoms among 60 adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder compared to placebo, with good tolerability.
The UK government has unveiled plans to open more than 100 walk-in mental health hubs in accessible community locations including libraries, banks and high street premises across England, alongside dedicated mental health emergency departments in hospitals. Health Secretary Andy Burnham described the initiative as the 'biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation' aimed at providing earlier intervention and preventing people from reaching crisis point.
CVS Health exceeded second-quarter earnings and revenue estimates and raised its full-year guidance, driven by better-than-expected medical costs in its Aetna insurance business. The results signal improvement in the struggling insurance division.
Kenya has entered a five-year cooperation framework with the Beginnings Fund, securing $80 million (Sh10.4 billion) to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare across 21 high-burden counties and approximately 200 health facilities, with an expected reach of over six million women and newborns.
The UN World Food Programme warns that acute child malnutrition has reached critical levels in one-third of Afghanistan's provinces, with 3.7 million children projected to suffer from malnutrition this year as funding shortfalls force cuts to food distributions and clinic services.
Florida is examining a potential property tax reduction that may have implications for healthcare-related funding in the state. The proposal raises questions about trade-offs between tax relief and healthcare resources.
Research from University of Cambridge and Institute of Cancer Research reveals that current NHS and NICE referral criteria fail to identify up to 95% of women under 50 who develop breast cancer within a decade. The study suggests a comprehensive risk assessment tool called BOADICEA identifies eight times more at-risk women than current family-history-based guidelines.
Maternal mortality rates have doubled in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as pregnant women avoid healthcare facilities due to fear and misinformation about the country's worst-ever Ebola outbreak, which has recorded over 3,600 cases as of late July 2026.
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 1,700 people with 3,802 confirmed cases, making it the fastest-growing outbreak on record. The WHO is accelerating vaccine trials as the crisis overwhelms response efforts.
New UCL research published in BMJ Public Health reveals that people living by the coast in England and Wales during midlife are more likely to experience worse health outcomes, with migration patterns playing a role in these findings.
The Senate Health Committee voted 13-10 to advance Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the CDC, despite Democratic concerns about political pressure and vaccine policy under the Trump administration.
The Trump administration announced it will immediately release $600 million in congressionally appropriated funds for Gavi, the global vaccine alliance serving the world's poorest countries. The funds had been withheld due to unsubstantiated safety concerns raised by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
More than 200 members of the American Diabetes Association are calling for two leaders to resign following the controversial expulsion of five diabetes experts from the organization's meeting last month.
The FDA has approved SimpleScreen CRC, a blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer, marking the second such test to receive approval. The less invasive option aims to improve screening uptake as colorectal cancer cases rise approximately 3 percent annually in adults under 50.
Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50, with cases continuing to rise in younger adults. Warning signs include persistent bowel changes, recurring rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain.
A U.S. federal judge ruled that Biden-era FDA restrictions on prescribing the abortion drug mifepristone are unlawful and unjustified, ordering the Trump Administration to reconsider existing regulations. The decision comes as over 400 state lawmakers from all 50 states have signed an amicus brief demanding protection for telehealth abortion care access.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it is investigating a new outbreak of cyclosporiasis involving 72 reported cases. The source of the parasitic infection, which causes severe gastrointestinal illness, has not yet been identified and is separate from previously recalled lettuce.
France's national health agency reported 5,764 excess deaths between June 17 and July 2, 2026, during an exceptional heatwave period that affected multiple regions. The figure is significantly higher than the Health Minister's initial late-June estimate of 2,025 deaths.
A fifth person has died in connection with a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City's Upper East Side neighborhood, with health officials confirming at least 82 total cases. Dozens of buildings have been found to contain live Legionella bacteria as authorities work to contain the outbreak.
Venezuela's health ministry confirmed three deaths from hantavirus infections in Anzoategui state, with two additional suspected deaths of health workers in Barinas state pending confirmation. Authorities stressed there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission and the outbreak remains localized.
Gilead Sciences and Merck announced that their experimental once-weekly HIV pill combining islatravir and lenacapavir successfully maintained viral suppression at 48 weeks in two Phase 3 trials (ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2) involving 1,209 adults with virologically suppressed HIV. The results support regulatory filings for what could become the first once-weekly oral HIV treatment regimen.
Michigan health officials reported 4,312 cases of cyclosporiasis as of Thursday, marking an increase of 550 cases in one day. Investigators are still working to identify the source of the unusually large outbreak of the intestinal illness.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) has recommended that the UK government introduce a routine Meningitis B vaccination program for adolescents at around age 15, following recent fatal outbreaks including one in Kent. The vaccine is currently only routinely given to babies.
UnitedHealth Group raised its 2026 profit outlook and beat quarterly earnings estimates, signaling recovery from previous challenges through tighter management of medical costs and improved performance in its Optum health services business.
Trump administration's CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz drew frustrated reactions from senators during her July 15 confirmation hearing when she pledged to 'never betray the science' while simultaneously backing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s actions, raising concerns about her willingness to protect the agency from political meddling.
Michigan health officials reported 3,309 cases of cyclosporiasis on Tuesday, an increase of 669 cases since Monday, with the parasitic illness outbreak resulting in 44 hospitalizations. The diarrhea-causing infection is part of a broader outbreak affecting 31 states.
HCA Healthcare lowered its annual profit forecast on Tuesday, citing a rise in uninsured patients and increased uncompensated care costs driven largely by Americans dropping coverage under Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans.
Michigan's Department of Health announced the parasite causing the state's cyclospora outbreak may be transmitted by contaminated lettuce or salad greens, as the outbreak has now surpassed 2,600 cases across 31 states.
The NHS has announced a long-term strategy to reduce sepsis deaths through earlier detection using wearable technology, remote monitoring, and rapid intervention. The initiative aims to prevent thousands of deaths from the life-threatening condition by 2035.
The federal government's latest dietary guidelines specifically encourage Americans to eat more fermented foods, amid growing mainstream interest in gut health driven by rising colorectal cancer rates among young adults and increasing popularity of personalized microbiome treatments.
India has launched a program utilizing its extensive postal network to offer free eye screenings and distribute reading glasses to people who lack access to vision care, addressing a global problem where most people who need corrective eyewear don't have it.
Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a nationally renowned Harvard teaching hospital, have walked out in what is now the largest nurses strike in Massachusetts history after months of unsuccessful contract negotiations with Mass General Brigham.
Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on July 15 for her confirmation hearing.
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo are nearing a pricing agreement with the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for their breast cancer treatment Enhertu, which could provide access to women in England and Wales with HER2-low breast cancer.
Two weeks after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, the death toll has climbed above 3,800 with tens of thousands still missing. The disaster has overwhelmed the country's healthcare system and presents a major crisis for Venezuela's acting president.
Health insurers offering Affordable Care Act plans are requesting a median 14% premium increase for 2027, marking the second consecutive year of double-digit hikes and intensifying affordability concerns that have already caused millions to drop coverage.
Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have gone on strike to protest delayed payments, threatening containment efforts as the Ebola outbreak reaches 1,708 cases with nearly 600 deaths. The World Health Organization says the outbreak is outpacing containment measures.
Michigan health officials reported 992 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite, since June 22, as part of a broader outbreak affecting multiple states across the country.
The World Health Organization released its Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, projecting annual cancer cases will surge from 20.6 million currently to 35 million by 2050—a 66.7% increase—while the disease already claims over 26,000 lives daily. The report highlights the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll on millions of patients despite scientific progress.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed cutting Medicare payments for drugs purchased under the 340B Drug Pricing Program in its 2027 rule, reigniting a long-standing dispute between safety-net hospitals and federal regulators over the program designed to help vulnerable populations access medications.
The EMA has granted accelerated assessment to Revolutions' experimental pancreatic cancer drug, potentially shortening the review timeline for this treatment targeting a disease with limited therapeutic options.
The World Health Organization has issued a warning that Europe may face additional deadly weeks as a new heatwave builds over the Atlantic, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast to reach temperatures of 43°C this week. The WHO has indicated that Europe's heat preparedness measures fall short of what is needed.
New federal data reveals steep declines in Affordable Care Act coverage across multiple states over the past year, with Ohio and Oklahoma each experiencing losses of nearly one-third of their enrollees.
Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood is resuming after being cut off for most of a year. The restoration of funding ends a prolonged period during which the organization was unable to receive reimbursements through the federal health insurance program for low-income Americans.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $281 million in grant funding opportunities across 15 programs aimed at addressing addiction, overdose, and mental illness. The funding was made available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The Democratic Republic of Congo's 17th Ebola epidemic has now claimed at least 506 lives out of 1,561 confirmed cases, according to health officials. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no vaccine or approved treatment currently exists, and frontline health workers are threatening to strike.
Michigan health officials are tracking a "large and growing" outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal infection, with more than 300 cases reported across 21 counties. The outbreak is part of a broader spread across multiple U.S. states, particularly in the Midwest.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Philip Morris permission to market its Zyn nicotine pouches as less harmful than cigarettes, allowing the company to market 20 variants of the product with modified risk claims.
The World Health Organization reported on June 30 that Venezuela's healthcare system is facing significant strain following deadly twin earthquakes, with damaged hospitals, missing staff, and growing concerns about infectious disease outbreaks and food shortages among survivors.
The FDA selected seven companies including Eli Lilly and Regeneron for a pilot program designed to speed up reviews of new domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, aiming to strengthen U.S. drug supply chains.
Starting July 1, 2026, Medicare will cover select GLP-1 weight loss medications for approximately $50 through a Trump administration pilot program, marking the first time the federal program has covered obesity drugs. The 18-month initiative raises concerns about potential drug shortages.
GLP-1 drugs from Pfizer and Innovent Biologics have cleared preliminary review to potentially be included in China's basic medical insurance drug catalogue, which would expand access to these treatments.
Family planning and health organizations in Pennsylvania have filed a lawsuit alleging that a new Trump administration policy could delay or deny federal funding to providers serving tens of thousands of patients across the state.
A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston challenging a Trump administration rule that implements new Medicaid work requirements and narrows exemptions for medically vulnerable people.
The United States has supplied doses of an experimental antibody drug from Mapp Biopharmaceutical to support clinical trials addressing the expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a Health Department spokesperson.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup faces significant weather challenges as matches begin across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with heat advisories issued on both U.S. coasts, thunderstorm threats in multiple venues, and public health officials monitoring heat-related illnesses and disease outbreaks among the 48 competing teams and spectators.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released its first-ever independent vaccine recommendations for pregnant women, advising COVID-19, flu, RSV, and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy. The guidance diverges from current CDC recommendations, which were modified under the Trump administration.
The United States has recorded over 2,000 confirmed measles cases in 2026, marking the second year in a row that the country has exceeded this threshold, according to CDC data updated June 5th showing 2,030 cases so far this year.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has been added to a lung transplant waiting list after significant deterioration of her pulmonary fibrosis condition, with doctors estimating she had only about a year to live without the surgery.
Poison control centers have experienced a sharp increase in calls related to semaglutide medications (Ozempic and Wegovy) following their approval for weight management, with researchers finding most cases stem from preventable dosing mistakes such as daily instead of weekly injections or confusion about proper dosage units.
Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against a UnitedHealth insurance unit, accusing it of defrauding the state's Medicaid program (MassHealth) by more than $100 million through inflating patient risk scores to make older patients appear sicker than they were.
New CDC data shows approximately 8% of Americans lacked health insurance in 2025, maintaining recent lows. However, experts warn the uninsured rate could increase as the Trump administration implements sweeping changes to health policy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected a proposal to reduce regulatory oversight of AI-powered medical devices, highlighting growing policy tension between promoting innovation and ensuring patient safety as AI adoption accelerates in healthcare.
Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and healthcare industry experts warn that public distrust could derail AI implementation in healthcare, calling for balanced approaches to patient data and responsible deployment frameworks. Singapore is piloting AI clinical decision support tools through its SIMFONI initiative for chronic disease management.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced a new program called IGoR designed to deliver rigorous, gold-standard research faster by using AI to guide experiments in complex, under-explored areas of science.
A Harvard study found that AI systems surpassed physicians in diagnostic accuracy for emergency room triage cases, with researchers noting they've reached "the ceiling" of AI diagnostic capabilities. The findings have generated significant attention though experts caution against overhyping the results.
A Bloomberg investigation revealed that state health insurance marketplaces, including those in Virginia and Washington, D.C., shared users' personal information including citizenship and race data with advertisers through embedded ad trackers. Virginia and D.C. paused the data collection and sharing following the report.
A study published in Science found that a large language model from OpenAI can outperform physicians in case-based diagnostic and clinical reasoning evaluations, marking a significant milestone in medical AI capabilities.
Researchers published in Science results showing an OpenAI artificial intelligence model outperformed physicians on diagnostic and clinical reasoning tasks, including real emergency department data, in one of the largest AI-physician comparison studies to date.
Two studies report that targeted, noninvasive radiation therapy (proton beam therapy) reduced episodes of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias by nearly 80% in critically ill patients, representing the first large-scale and first-in-human evidence for this approach.
Two major clinical trials led by St. Michael's Hospital and Oxford University found that Paxlovid does not reduce hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated adults at higher risk of severe COVID-19, though it helps them recover faster.
President Trump signed an executive order imposing up to 100% tariffs on certain branded pharmaceutical imports unless drugmakers negotiate pricing agreements with his administration, marking a major escalation in his drug pricing strategy.
Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has been appointed Principal Deputy Director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, effective March 2023. Governor Janet Mills announced the appointment.
