Global Scans · Good Health and Well-being · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• [New] In 2026, AI will play a significant role in digital health; streamlining clinical decision-making, freeing clinicians from repetitive tasks and providing more patient-focused care. Digital Health
• [New] In 2026, cardiovascular care will undergo a major shift toward proactive, digitally enabled management as health systems respond to record cardiac demand and workforce shortages. Digital Health
• [New] In 2026, health and social care will lean more heavily into predictive workforce analytics and will seek AI models grounded in real operational data as leaders take action to deliver transformation, including change demanded by national policies, such as the 10 year health plan. Digital Health
• [New] Digitally enabled healthcare has been promised as the default mode of access for most patients and in 2027 the pressure to start delivering it and moving with wider societal progress will be significant. Digital Health
• [New] Digital health innovations are expected to advance significantly by 2026, focusing on AI, data integration, and patient care improvements. Yesil Science - Digital the Health
• [New] Hospitals and health systems continue to sever ties with Medicare Advantage plans heading into 2026, citing persistent frustrations with prior authorization denials and slow reimbursement from insurers. Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & A
• [New] Pfizer and GSK (GSK, Financials) are leading a new round of price adjustments set to take effect in early 2026, with data from healthcare analytics firm 3 Axis Advisors showing that more than 350 branded medicines will see higher list prices across the U.S. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Over 75% of large employers will offer digital mental health resources in 2026, such as mindfulness and meditation apps or cognitive behavioral therapy tools. Managed Healthcare Executive
• [New] Medicare's total drug costs were projected at $65.9 billion and health care cost offsets from clinical benefits at $18.2 billion, resulting in net increased spending of $47.7 billion. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Hospitals and health systems have received criticism for the difficulty the average consumer faces in trying to understand how much procedures will cost, but there may be more visibility in pricing in the coming year. Chief Healthcare Executive
• [New] Horizontal integration and M&A activity among health systems will accelerate in 2026. pharmexec
• [New] GLP-1 receptor agonists will continue to grow and have been associated with the significant increase Americans are expected to see in their health care premiums in 2027. AJMC
• [New] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has indicated that 2026 enforcement will emphasize heat illness prevention, indoor air quality, and recordkeeping transparency. Future Systems Inc.
• [New] In 2026, increased attention is expected on climate-related health risks, infectious disease preparedness, mental health and substance use, health equity and the social determinants of health. Hospital News
• [New] Federated learning networks will explode in healthcare by 2026 because of privacy regulations like GDPR. Software House
• [New] Health care providers, including pharmacists, will increasingly be asked to provide guidance - even in the absence of FDA approval. / USA Pharmacy Times
• [New] The National Institutes of Health is committed to leveraging the potential of AI/ML to accelerate the pace of biomedical innovation, while prioritizing and addressing the complex drivers of health outcomes. AIM-AHEAD
• [New] 2026 will be a fascinating time for healthcare innovation - a year when much greater decisive action will be in evidence. Digital Health
• [New] 2026 will be the year D2C stops being a side hustle and becomes the way the most serious studios are built, run, and loved by their players. pocketgamer.biz
• The federal government's rapid changes and unnecessary swirl around vaccine policy is harmful for Marylanders and all Americans, and could result in disastrous public health outcomes. Maryland.gov Enterprise Agency Template
• As federal government uncertainty around vaccine policy has raised questions for many, Maryland public health officials will continue to use science-based guidance to be a trusted resource for people to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. Maryland.gov Enterprise Agency Template

Last updated: 04 January 2026