Global Scans · Health · Weekly Summary

• [New] Health care AI is expected to soar from $20 billion in 2024 to $500 billion by 2033, buoyed by rapid rate. The Real Economy Blog
• [New] Looking ahead, CMS expects spending to reach $5.6 trillion in 2025, a 7.1% increase, and climb to $8.6 trillion by 2033, when health care is projected to make up 20.3% of GDP. The Real Economy Blog
• [New] Scaling Food Is Medicine initiatives through Medicaid and Medicare pilots could reduce chronic disease and lower long-term health costs. Think Global Health
• [New] Investments in workforce mental health promise to unleash human potential, yet depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders alone still cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative
• [New] New research reveals why Zero Trust and real-time healthcare interoperability will define compliance, safety, and AI readiness in 2026. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] The proposal to lower drug pricing will help open up conversations about requiring hospitals and providers to slash their prices - which can be a top driver of health insurer premiums. Health Care News for Insurance Brokers | J&R Report
• [New] An estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for the House's December health bill estimated it would have lowered premiums by 11%, but increased the number of people without insurance by 300,000 per year from 2027 through 2035. Health Care News for Insurance Brokers | J&R Report
• [New] While government-mandated price controls may appear to lower health care spending in the short-term, restricting the pipeline of innovative drugs will leave patients sicker for longer, only increasing the medical expenditures that they - and taxpayers - must shoulder in the long-run. Health Care News for Insurance Brokers | J&R Report
• [New] The Chinese government has been actively promoting digital health solutions as part of its broader healthcare reform initiatives, such as the Healthy China 2030 program. Polaris
• [New] Through the D3 strategy-Device, Digital, Disease - which combines genomics with virtual replicas, healthcare systems worldwide have the potential to transition from reactive treatments to predictive, personalized care. World Health Expo Insights
• [New] In 2023, AD/ADRD accounted for $345 billion in healthcare costs in the U.S. - the highest of any disease, and healthcare costs for AD/ADRD are projected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050. Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium
• [New] In 2026, U.S. health systems are expected to keep moving away from a heavy reliance on traditional inpatient hospital care and instead focus on new growth opportunities across outpatient and non-acute settings. VisaMadeEZ
• [New] Healthcare institutions operate 15,600 VR surgical simulators worth US$ 3,450 million, enabling 285,000 medical professionals to practice complicated procedures without patient risk. GlobeNewswire
• [New] In 2026, investment in women's health will expand rapidly as technology focuses on filling longstanding gaps in areas such as menopause, autoimmune conditions, metabolic and cognitive health, and more. Healthcare IT Today | Fresh, Daily, Practical Healthcar
• [New] Long-term care and mental health pharmacies are emerging as some of the most compelling investment opportunities in 2026. JD Supra
• [New] Regulatory scrutiny will shape how AI shows up in healthcare PE in 2026, driving tighter diligence and more adaptive deal terms. JD Supra
• [New] Healthcare PE investors have sharpened their focus on AI-driven value creation, a trend that is expected to intensify in 2026. JD Supra
• [New] Healthcare in 2026 is defined by two hard truths: systems are spending more but not always getting better value, and patients expect care that works as fast as the rest of their digital lives. Zymr
• [New] President Donald J. Trump's Great Healthcare Plan is a broad healthcare initiative that will slash prescription drug prices, reduce insurance premiums, hold big insurance companies accountable, and maximize price transparency in the American healthcare system. The White House
• We expect a 2026 push for U.S.-based resilience in pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medical devices. JD Supra
• Faster access to new therapies could reduce fracture rates, improve quality of life for ageing populations and ease pressure on health and care systems worldwide. Mirage News
• Pharmavitae Analytics casts its eye out to 2026 with challenging trends in healthcare management set to crystallize, Big Pharma will add $29.5bn in revenues out to 2026, generating $351bn in prescription pharmaceuticals at a low single-digit compound annual growth rate of 0.9%. PM360

Last updated: 23 January 2026