healthcare

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29, in France, with teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and public transport staff expected to walk out. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. The RATP transport network is among the services affected, and travellers may face disruptions across the country.

Indonesia will inject $1.1 billion into BPJS Kesehatan, the state agency that runs the country's universal health insurance scheme. The government capital injection is aimed at strengthening the insurer's finances so it can keep covering more than 90% of Indonesians. Observers are watching whether the funds will resolve persistent claims backlogs and funding shortfalls in the national health programme.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation creating a new label for foods that are not ultra-processed, part of a package of health bills the governor's office describes as advancing the state's nation-leading healthcare strategy. California is positioning itself at the forefront of US food and health regulation, following earlier measures on additives and school nutrition, as scrutiny of ultra-processed foods grows nationwide.

A viewpoint article published by Chief Healthcare Executive argues that artificial intelligence is transforming medicine and that medical education must change in response. The piece calls on medical schools and training programs to prepare future doctors for AI-driven clinical practice. The author's specific recommendations for curricula are not detailed beyond the headline's claim.

The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to let it enforce limits on gender-affirming care for transgender inmates in federal prisons. The request asks the justices to allow the policy to take effect while legal challenges proceed, and it lands amid ongoing national battles over transgender healthcare and prison rights.

NASA says work aboard the International Space Station opened the week with advanced health research, while the orbital outpost waits for the arrival of the upcoming Crew-13 mission. Experiments underway are focused on how the human body responds to extended time in space, findings that could benefit astronauts on longer missions and improve healthcare on Earth.

Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have voted to authorize an open-ended strike, meaning they could walk off the job at any time without a set end date. The vote signals mounting frustration in contract negotiations over staffing, wages and working conditions. A strike at one of the country's leading academic medical centers would disrupt care and put pressure on hospital management to return to the bargaining table.

A scabies outbreak at a hospital has led to the closure of wards, according to BBC and Yahoo reports. Scabies, a contagious skin infestation caused by mites, spreads quickly in healthcare settings, prompting temporary ward shutdowns and deep cleaning to contain transmission among patients and staff. Details about the hospital's location and the number of affected people have not been confirmed in the available reports.

Forbes reports on robots being developed to draw blood from patients, taking over a task traditionally performed by phlebotomists. The piece highlights how automated blood-drawing devices could ease staffing shortages and improve accuracy in hospitals and clinics, while raising questions about how patients will react to a machine handling a delicate, personal medical procedure.

A new projection puts the increase in women's health spending at $527 billion, according to a report covered by Chief Healthcare Executive. The figure points to significant growth expected in the sector, spanning care, products and services aimed at women. Healthcare industry watchers are citing the number as a signal of where investment and policy attention may be headed.

Laboratory Corporation of America, known as Labcorp, has reached a settlement with the state of Alaska over a data breach that affected 82,958 residents. The agreement was reported by the Juneau Empire. Details of the settlement terms, including any payments or commitments to improved data security, have not been widely detailed in initial coverage of the agreement.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking at adopting new technologies to reduce improper payments and fraud across its programs. The agency oversees vast federal health spending, so curbing erroneous or fraudulent payouts is a longstanding priority. The report has drawn attention in federal technology and healthcare policy circles as agencies weigh modernization of payment oversight.

Deloitte has released a model estimating a $527 billion growth opportunity in United States women's health, arguing that greater investment in health promotion, prevention and early detection could unlock much of that value. The analysis frames women's health as an underserved market with significant economic potential, and is likely to fuel debate among health systems, insurers and policymakers about where spending should be directed.

Doctors, nurses and therapists employed by LifeLong Medical Care have gone on strike across the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Workers at the community health network walked off the job, though details on their specific demands have not yet been widely reported. The action affects clinics serving low-income patients in Oakland, Berkeley and surrounding communities.

A federal bill modeled on Oregon's state law has been introduced in Washington DC that would ban the corporate practice of medicine nationwide. The legislation would prevent non-physician entities from owning or controlling medical practices, a restriction currently in place only in varying forms at the state level. The proposal has drawn attention from healthcare providers, investors and law firms assessing its impact on practice ownership and private equity involvement in medicine.

The National Federation of Independent Business brought small business owners to the US Capitol for a healthcare summit focused on health coverage costs and policy affecting small employers. Participants are expected to meet with lawmakers and discuss rising premiums and healthcare access as key concerns for small businesses.

Clinicians at LifeLong Medical Care have gone on strike in Richmond, California, after contract negotiations between the union and the health provider broke down. The work stoppage affects operations at the nonprofit's clinics, and labor disputes over staffing and pay at community health centers have drawn attention across the Bay Area.

Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital in Tennessee is set to receive a multimillion-dollar upgrade to its electronic health record system. The investment aims to modernize how patient information is stored and shared across Vanderbilt Health facilities, improving care coordination and efficiency for staff and patients. Further details on the timeline and cost of the project have not yet been announced.

Jon Duckert has been appointed president of Texas Health Southlake, a hospital in Southlake, Texas. The announcement, reported by The Business Press, marks a leadership change at the facility. Details about Duckert's background, start date, and priorities for the role were not included in the initial report.

Colorado has awarded nearly $170 million to rural healthcare providers across the state. The funding is aimed at supporting hospitals and clinics serving rural communities, which often face financial strain and limited access to care. State officials presented the awards as a boost for rural health infrastructure.

Sentara Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are in a contract dispute that could affect patients across Hampton Roads, Virginia. If no agreement is reached, Anthem policyholders could lose in-network access to Sentara hospitals, doctors and facilities. Patients in the region are being warned to watch for updates as negotiations continue between the two healthcare organizations.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved the university's representatives to the Nebraska Medicine board, formalising governance ties between the university system and its affiliated health network. The move concerns the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its partner hospital system, and was reported by regional outlets including Rural Radio Network.