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] Planetary crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are impacting human health and threatening previous gains in global health. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As generics expand access and ongoing research clarifies long-term outcomes, healthcare systems will adapt to prioritise obesity treatment, ultimately improving population health and quality of life worldwide. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The current COVID-19 pandemic has created a range of additional challenges testing the resilience of many health-care systems and vulnerabilities at all levels (acute, subacute, community, and individuals) on the global stage. LWW
• [New] [] In LMICs, the density of skilled health-care professionals (physicians, nurses, and midwives) is suboptimal: an estimated 890 per million population in Africa, 1900 per million in South-East Asia, and 2210 per million population in the Eastern Mediterranean regions. LWW
• [New] Obesity represents a complex public health challenge that has escalated to epidemic levels worldwide, posing significant risks to morbidity and mortality. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Across England, rents have spiraled, homelessness has risen and deteriorating and dangerous housing conditions have threatened the health of tenants. Community Newspaper Group
• [New] E-cigarettes emit potentially toxic substances that pose health risks. SMOKO E Cigarettes
• [New] The 2025-2030 DGA emphasizes that most U.S. health care spending is devoted to chronic diseases, much of it diet related. American College of Cardiology
• [New] Individuals carrying the CYP2R 1 rs10741657 risk allele need higher doses to maintain bone health-details often overlooked by conventional recommendations. / China LWW
• [New] Over the next decade, the U.S. healthcare system is expected to place greater emphasis on prevention, personalized care, digital-first access, and services delivered across a wider range of settings. caa | Capital Analytics Associates
• [New] State agriculture officials are calling for stronger federal coordination to combat growing animal health threats facing American farmers. Farm Progress
• [New] Beyond national or supra-national initiatives, global organizations like the WHO and UNESCO could monitor guidelines on the ethical and responsible use of AI in health. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] A widely used model developed to predict patient health needs in U.S. hospitals was found to underestimate the health needs of Black / African American patients, resulting from biased training data that used healthcare costs as a proxy for health status. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The Companion Animal Parasite Council shared its 2026 Pet Parasite Forecast that projects continued geographic expansion of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and heartworm risk across the US as well as growth in areas that were previously considered moderate or low risk. dvm360
• [New] The World Health Organization has issued guidance suggesting that non-sugar sweeteners should not be relied upon for weight control or reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (in people without type 2 diabetes). Gizmodo
• As adoption broadens across clinical applications, advanced and non-invasive ventilator technologies are expected to play a central role in shaping the future of global healthcare delivery. ACCESSWIRE Newsroom
• Brain health is the state of brain function in the areas of cognition, sensory perception, socio-emotionality, behaviour, and motor skills that enables a person to reach their full potential throughout their life, regardless of the presence or absence of disorders; as defined by the WHO. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The strong possibility of large changes to Federal government spending poses a threat to the health of the U.S. economy in the near term. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• Haiti's HIV response is at risk of collapse as the U.S.-funded Global Health Supply Chain Program, Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) winds down. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• Microplastics are a threat to human health, and have now been added to the EPA's Contaminant Candidate List. Multipure
• To end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, we must act with urgency, ambition, and innovation. EATG

Last updated: 03 May 2026