Global Scans · Health · Weekly Summary

• [New] Health Risks Due to Increased Temperatures Rising global temperatures increase the risk of dehydration and other heat-related health issues. Policybazaar
• [New] At the 2022 World Health Assembly, member states endorsed an acceleration plan for obesity prevention, aiming to support countries in implementing effective interventions by 2030. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] A recent Deloitte 2026 Global Health Care Outlook survey highlights that 64% of health system executives believe AI will be the primary driver for cost reduction through automated workflows in the coming year. Zymr
• [New] Obesity will cost the US healthcare system $20.4 trillion between 2023 and 2060 if current trends continue. GoalBMI Wellness
• [New] Obesity alone will cost the US healthcare system $20.4 trillion from 2023 to 2060 in direct costs. GoalBMI Wellness
• [New] Evidence continues to point to tiredness, sleep deprivation and exhaustion as major threats to seafarers' health. SAFETY4SEA
• [New] AI's role in healthcare, biotechnology, climate science, and advanced research will become one of the most significant growth areas over the coming decade. Manoj Gopanapalli
• [New] The American Legion is troubled that increased travel distances, reduced operating hours, higher prescription volumes at remaining pharmacies, and disruptions in established pharmacist-patient relationships may negatively affect medication adherence and health outcomes. The American Legion
• [New] A highly structured lifestyle programme of diet, exercise, cardiovascular health monitoring, and brain-training exercises was more effective than self-guided, flexible changes at improving global cognition scores in adults at risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Pharmaphorum
• By 2030, the number of people aged 60 years and over will reach 1.4 billion all around the globe, thus making the development of new healthcare technologies necessary. Spherical Insights
• Mental health telehealth represents the most time-sensitive actionable opportunity with 57 million Americans living with mental illness (SAMHSA) and 45 states reporting provider shortages, offering above-average subscription retention, high session frequency, and CMS-expanded reimbursement parity. Persistence Market Research
• Healthcare and life sciences are projected to grow at a 13.45% CAGR through 2031. Mordor Intelligence
• South Korea is expected to be in a relatively optimistic position due to having one of the lowest obesity rates globally, along with good nutrition, a lower number of smokers, and excellent access to health care. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The U.S. is the largest in North America and is expected to reach ~ US$ 18 Bn by 2026 (derived from OTC pharmaceutical consumption patterns and national health expenditure trends reported by CDC-linked wellness data and NIH nutritional studies). Persistence Market Research
• End-Use Dynamics: BFSI is projected to dominate with roughly 26% share in 2026 due to compliance and audit requirements, while healthcare is expected to be the fastest-growing at 17% CAGR through 2033, driven by electronic health record (EHR) digitization. Persistence Market Research
• The global health worker shortage will reach 11 million by 2030, primarily impacting low- and lower-middle-income countries. Market Data Forecast
• Asia-Pacific is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period, driven by rapid economic development, expanding middle-class populations, increasing healthcare expenditure, and significant investments in healthcare infrastructure and digital transformation. Market Data Forecast
• Demand for brain health supplements will grow from $12.6 billion in 2025 to $35.94 billion by 2035, nearly tripling in 10 years. EMG - create connect communicate
• With growing adoption of digital healthcare ecosystems and autonomous logistics networks, medical drones are expected to play a critical role in improving healthcare accessibility, reducing delivery times, and enhancing patient outcomes worldwide. openpr
• The World Health Organization has issued updated global guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, saying that up to 45% of cases may be preventable or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors throughout life. UN News
• Given the WHO's projected 11-million-worker deficit and the finding that 50% of AI users can see eight more patients per week, agentic AI becomes a healthcare access issue, not merely an efficiency one. TopDoctor Magazine
• AI clinical scribes are directly enabling them to sustain a longer, more manageable career, a finding that is particularly significant given the WHO's projected deficit of 11 million health workers by 2030. TopDoctor Magazine

Last updated: 31 July 2026