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] Recent scientific studies conducted in Africa have highlighted the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure as well as promising bioremediation strategies. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Health risk studies in South America have identified clear associations between PFAS exposure and adverse health effects. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The World Health Organization has consistently highlighted antimicrobial resistance as among the top ten global public health threats. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a critical global health threat, challenging the efficacy of existing antibiotics and undermining advances in modern medicine. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Health, some 140 volunteers have been trained to use bicycles to travel into remote communities, identifying mothers and babies in their homes who might need extra care, and providing them with information and referrals when needed. Save the Children International
• [New] The biggest takeaway from in 2025 is how AI in healthcare has moved from buzz to results-focused, risk-tolerant growth. Mobihealthnews
• [New] Health care costs in the United States are likely to increase by 6.5% to, in many cases, as much as over 10% in 2026. Webber Advisors
• [New] Health Alert: Half a Billion Women Under 50 Will Have Musculoskeletal Pain by 2050! Advanced Health
• [New] AI will disrupt nearly every aspect of health care delivery in the coming years. Countercurrents
• [New] With Medicare spending projected to exceed $1 trillion annually by 2030, policymakers are working to curb administrative burdens while expanding coverage - particularly for mental health services amid a post-pandemic surge in demand. Doctor Trusted
• [New] In summary, the next decade will be defined by technological innovation, patient-centered design, and integrated healthcare solutions and it will require engineers and leaders to balance speed of innovation with quality, safety, and compliance to truly improve patient outcomes worldwide. Businessday NG
• In 2025, the collective understanding of sleep as an active and essential contributor to both physical and mental health will become mainstream. Acceler8ar.com
• In 2025, contrast therapy-alternating between hot and cold treatments - is expected to gain deeper recognition as a versatile tool for health and wellness. Acceler8ar.com
• As consumers continue to prioritize credible sources and evidence, 2025 will see a growing culture of informed decision-making in health and wellness. Acceler8ar.com
• Looking ahead to 2025, the fitness industry is expected to place greater emphasis on workouts that support both physical strength and mental well-being. Acceler8ar.com
• Universal screening for youth suicide risk is recommended in healthcare settings. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Universal screening for youth suicide risk is feasible in healthcare settings, identifies previously unrecognized risk, and has sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of suicide attempts. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Research from the University of Michigan Health has indicated that poor blood sugar control in children with T1D may be directly associated with increased risks of neuropathy in adulthood. HCPLive
• HHS's Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health will spend $100 million on the development of more quantitative measures of mental and behavioral health through its new Evidence-Based Validation & Innovation for Rapid Therapeutics in Behavioral Health initiative. DeBrunner & Associates
• The end result is that nearly half of U.S. adults expect they will not be able to afford necessary health care in 2026. NPR
• The costs of both Obamacare and employer-sponsored insurance plans are set to skyrocket in 2026, in a country where health care is already the most expensive in the developed world. NPR

Last updated: 14 December 2025