WHO held a March 4 briefing for Permanent Missions on updating the 2026 Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List. The 2026 list includes 36 countries (down from 55 in 2023) due to UHC Service Coverage Index improvements. Active recruitment from listed countries is discouraged.

The March meeting of the US Preventive Services Task Force has been postponed, marking a full year without convening. The 16-member expert panel recommends cancer screenings, STI testing, and other preventive measures insurers must cover.

The FDA ordered Novo Nordisk to stop running a consumer ad for Ozempic, citing false and misleading claims about the drug's approved uses. This is the second warning within a month—the first (February 5) targeted a Wegovy ad.

The $1.2 trillion law extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities for two additional years (through December 2027) and introduces significant federal oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including requiring 100% manufacturer rebate pass-through to Medicare plans.

German pharma giant projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA of €9.6–10.1 billion, slightly below market consensus. The company faces generic competition for its blood thinner and continued Roundup litigation uncertainty.

MINSA is managing over S/4 million to reinforce health facilities during the rainy season, with 41 deaths and 633 facilities operating under adverse conditions. Over 700 health brigades with 4,000 professionals deployed; 1,967 beds including 54 ICU available.

CMS published a proposed rule to lower premiums, expand consumer choice, crack down on fraud, and promote innovative prevention-focused coverage in the Medicare Advantage program for 2026.

ACOG withdrew from ACIP, warning changes "undermine scientific integrity and evidence-based approach to vaccine policy." NIH head Jay Bhattacharya was appointed acting CDC director. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. previously dismissed all 17 ACIP members in June 2025.

PAHO Director Dr. Barbosa highlighted that the HEARTS strategy has raised hypertension control from 25% to 60-65% in implementing countries. The regional average health spending is 4.3% of GDP, below the 6% target.

A new LDI study at the University of Pennsylvania found that nursing home staffing mandates raised care levels without triggering facility closures.

A BMJ article argues that prevention policies and budgets must be protected and aligned with GLP-1 weight-loss drug expansion. Comprehensive obesity prevention must not be replaced by pharmacological interventions alone.

The EMT Regional Secretariat hosts on March 4 the webinar "Women on the Frontline: Strengthening Emergency Care Continuum," featuring field experiences from Jamaica's Hurricane Melissa response.

AstraZeneca hosts a full-day program at 4YFN/MWC Barcelona exploring AI in healthcare. Includes keynotes on digital twins in rare diseases, AI impact at scale, AI-driven early detection in amyloidosis, and proactive data-driven care for chronic patients.

Over 5,000 participants from 60+ countries convene at Messe Basel for Europe's leading healthtech platform. Includes startups, pharma, health systems, investors, and regulators. Created by Bits & Pretzels/MCH Group joint venture.

The 25th edition in Silicon Valley, co-hosted with Stanford and UCSF, brings 2,500+ attendees and 400+ speakers including Greg Brockman (OpenAI), Priscilla Chan (CZI), Scott Gottlieb (former FDA), and Nobel laureates. 12 tracks cover AI, therapeutics, genomics, liquid biopsy, and precision diagnostics.

Qure.ai received FDA 510(k) clearance for qXR-Detect, completing its chest X-ray suite with 26 FDA-cleared indications. Optellum received TGA Class IIb approval in Australia for its Virtual Nodule Clinic with lung cancer prediction AI.

The FDA launched the "Technology-Enabled Meaningful Patient Outcomes (TEMPO) for Digital Health Devices Pilot" in connection with CMMI's ACCESS model, promoting access to digital health devices while safeguarding patient safety.

Myriad Genetics announces the commercial launch of the Precise MRD test with select oncology practices for breast cancer patients. The personalized test helps determine treatment effectiveness.

Brainlab and Precision NeuroMed announced a strategic partnership to develop AI-enabled planning software for convection-enhanced delivery to the brain, initially targeting recurrent glioblastoma.

The telemedicine and digital health market, valued at $85.5 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $180 billion by 2031 (13.21% CAGR), driven by AI, machine learning, IoT, and digital infrastructure development.

In 2025, 54% of digital health investment went to AI-enabled companies (up from 37% in 2024). AI healthcare startups raised $3.95 billion in H1 2025 (62% of total), per Rock Health.

Midi Health (US) $100M Series D — Women's health • Third Arc Bio (US) $52M Series A — Biotech • Biorce (Spain) $52M Series A — Health AI • Prenosis (US) $20M Series A — AI/biotech • Synthpop (US) $15M Series A — Medical software • YOU(th) (Europe) $4.5M — Smartphone screening

Y Combinator has funded 146 health tech startups through March 2026, spanning digital health, consumer health, AI, and health insurance.

Smart Meter and digiiMED announced results across three Puerto Rico FQHCs: 360 patients enrolled, 23,000+ BP readings collected, and 54% of patients with uncontrolled hypertension achieved blood pressure control. The model will expand to mainland US FQHCs.

Moderna reached a settlement with Genevant Sciences (Roivant) and Arbutus Biopharma of up to $2.25 billion to resolve the dispute over lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. Includes $950M upfront in July 2026 plus $1.3 billion contingent. Among the largest patent settlements in history.

Sino Biopharmaceutical granted Sanofi an exclusive global license for rovadicitinib (oral JAK/ROCK inhibitor) for up to $1.53 billion ($135M upfront + $1.40 billion in milestones). Received Chinese regulatory approval last month for intermediate-2 and high-risk myelofibrosis.

PAHO urged countries to strengthen pharmacovigilance and appropriate use of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Alert highlights increasing adverse events from off-label use, commercialization through unofficial channels, and risk of falsified products. WHO recommended including semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide in the Essential Medicines List only for type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular/kidney disease and obesity (BMI ≥30).

Researchers created the Independent Autism Coordinating Committee (I-ACC) to counter the federal committee restructured by RFK Jr. Includes former NIMH directors (Joshua Gordon, Tom Insel). First meeting: March 19.

The NHS is recruiting 49,000 people with schizophrenia and severe depression for GlobalMinds, described as the world's largest mental health study. Researchers will analyze DNA alongside detailed questionnaires. Led by Akrivia Health and Cardiff University.

The March issues of APA journals feature research on primary PTSD prevention in combat soldiers through attention bias modification, long-term safety of xanomeline-trospium in schizophrenia (52-week extension), and bipolar disorder neurobiology updates.

The first-in-human CuRe trial (phase 1) published in The Lancet demonstrated the feasibility and safety of delivering placenta-derived stem cells during prenatal myelomeningocele repair.

64 research entries from 50 institutions compete. Highlights: genetic test diagnosing ALS, brain waste-clearing mechanism in Alzheimer's, cortisol-detecting dental floss, and U. Chicago's in vivo CAR-T antigen replacement platform.

The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking published its 2026 Work Programme with €147 million for research on new TB drugs, lower respiratory tract infection prevention, HIV and co-infections. Short proposal deadline: March 4, 2026.

WHO confirmed two cases of a new recombinant mpox strain combining genomic material from clades Ib and IIb: one in the UK (Dec 2025) and one in India (Sept 2025). Neither patient experienced severe illness. Genomic sequencing is essential, as clade-differentiation PCR tests alone "may not reliably identify recombinant MPXV strains."

PAHO issued an epidemiological alert following sustained chikungunya increase. Transmission resumed in Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname after a decade without cases. In 2025: 313,132 cases and 170 deaths regionally.

MINSA launched the Plan with a budget of S/86,255,487 transferred to all regions. San Martín reports over 1,000 recent cases. Three pillars: early-warning health intelligence, quality care improvement, and vector control with community participation.

WHO seeks nearly $1 billion for 36 global emergencies, including 14 Grade 3. In 2025: supported 30 million people, delivered vaccines to 5.3 million children, facilitated 53 million consultations. Priorities: Afghanistan, DRC, Haiti, Myanmar, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen.

SAGE will meet March 9–12, 2026 at WHO HQ in hybrid format to review global vaccine and immunization recommendations.

Analysis from The European Sting: equitable digital health innovation (AI, big data, connected diagnostics), antimicrobial resistance as a "silent pandemic," climate change as a direct health emergency, and empowering young professionals as change agents.

PAHO maintains active surveillance on the dengue situation in the region. Multiple countries report increased cases associated with climate conditions favorable for vector transmission.