healthcare

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29, in France, involving teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters, and public transport staff. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. Travelers should expect disruptions, with RATP services likely affected, and check updated schedules before setting out.

A new study indicates healthcare workers are battling persistent long COVID symptoms, with many continuing to experience fatigue, brain fog and other lasting effects well after infection. The findings highlight the ongoing toll of the pandemic on medical staff, raising concerns about workforce shortages and the need for better support and treatment for affected clinicians.

A new study reports that women presenting with symptoms similar to men's often receive less intensive medical care. The findings point to possible disparities in how treatment decisions are made in hospitals, echoing long-running concerns about gender bias in medicine. Researchers and commentators say the results underline the need for clinicians to reassess how urgently women's symptoms are evaluated and treated.

US health insurers warn that AI-driven medical billing and coding could add billions of dollars in unnecessary claims and raise overall healthcare costs. Medical billing and coding companies reject the claim, arguing that AI improves accuracy and efficiency rather than driving up spending. The dispute comes as regulators and providers weigh how quickly artificial intelligence should be adopted across the healthcare revenue cycle.

A coalition of civil society organisations has issued a joint statement marking International Safe Abortion Day 2026, declaring that safe abortion is essential healthcare and issuing a call to action. The statement urges governments and health systems to treat abortion access as a fundamental part of medical care and human rights.

Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton, the leading candidates to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor, have unveiled contrasting healthcare platforms. CalMatters compares their plans as the 2026 race heats up, with healthcare emerging as a key campaign issue for voters across the state.

New research says menopause is a major health milestone in women's lives, yet medical records systems barely record or track it. The findings highlight a gap in how healthcare systems document midlife women's health, which researchers argue can affect care quality and research into conditions linked to menopause.

The World Economic Forum argues that chronic disease should be treated not only as a public health crisis but also as a major economic problem. Long-term conditions drive rising healthcare costs, reduce workforce productivity and strain public finances, making them a drag on growth. The framing calls for policymakers to address non-communicable diseases through an economic lens as well as a medical one.

Pranjal Gambhir has joined investment bank Lazard as Head of Medical Technology, the firm announced via a press release. The appointment places Gambhir in charge of Lazard's banking coverage for the medtech sector, a key advisory area for the firm as it pursues deals, restructurings and capital raising among medical technology companies. Details of Gambhir's background and start date were not included in the announcement.

Bright Smile Dental Care, a dental practice in Fishers, Indiana, has notified patients that it experienced a data security breach. The notification follows standard practice for healthcare providers after such incidents, which often involve exposure of patient information like names, contact details, and insurance data. Details about how many patients were affected or what data was accessed have not yet been made public.

A Bloomberg opinion piece argues that universal public health insurance is the answer to the United States' ongoing healthcare crisis. The article contends that millions of Americans face unaffordable care and gaps in coverage, and that a publicly funded universal system would address these failures. The argument feeds into a long-running American debate over single-payer healthcare versus the current mixed public-private model.

Healthcare systems are coming under scrutiny for their substantial environmental footprint, prompting calls to redesign how care is delivered. Discussion is focusing on ways hospitals and health providers can cut emissions, reduce waste and adopt more sustainable practices without compromising patient outcomes.

Healthcare organizations are pursuing financial transformation initiatives aimed at protecting patient access to care. Modern Healthcare reports that providers are reworking their financial operations and funding models to remain sustainable amid rising costs and margin pressure, with the stated goal of keeping services accessible rather than cutting them.

Methodist Healthcare is seeking to establish a new trauma center in San Antonio, prompting city leaders to voice concern for the military mission at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). Officials want any expansion of civilian trauma capacity to avoid undermining BAMC's role as a military medical facility and its broader defense-related responsibilities in the region.

In Hawaii, a contested race between Jill Tokuda and Awa is centering on a key question: which candidate would better serve Native Hawaiians. The matchup, covered by Honolulu Civil Beat, frames Native Hawaiian interests as the decisive issue, with both campaigns positioning themselves as the stronger advocate on sovereignty, land, healthcare and economic concerns affecting the community.

Dr. David Callender is retiring from his role as president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, one of the largest hospital systems in the Houston area and Texas. The announcement was reported by the Houston Chronicle. The system has not yet detailed a transition timeline or successor in the available reporting, leaving questions about leadership continuity at a major regional healthcare provider.

South Korean body-composition analysis firm InBody says it is expanding beyond its fitness equipment base to build a broader global healthcare business. In an interview with Korea Biomedical Review, the company outlined plans to move its body-analysis technology further into medical settings such as hospitals and clinics worldwide, positioning itself as a healthcare company rather than purely a fitness equipment maker.

Delaware health officials are warning communities to stay alert for whooping cough, stressing that the state is not experiencing an outbreak. The advisory asks residents and healthcare providers to watch for symptoms such as persistent coughing, particularly in young children and infants, and to ensure vaccinations are up to date as cases circulate in the region.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare has announced a new sports medicine partnership, according to an announcement covered by the Post and Courier. Details of the partner organisation and scope of the deal have not been widely reported, but the move signals the Charleston-based health system's continued expansion into athletic care and rehabilitation services.

Columbus hospitals are investing billions of dollars in new construction and building projects set to open in 2026. The Columbus Dispatch reports on the wave of expansion across the city's healthcare systems, detailing what new facilities and renovations are coming. The spending reflects major ongoing growth in central Ohio's medical infrastructure.