World Pneumonia Day on 12 November 2025 highlights the ongoing threat of pneumonia, especially to children under five and vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. Urgent actions include increasing vaccination coverage, strengthening primary healthcare, promoting equity, and improving access to medical oxygen to prevent and treat pneumonia effectively.
The WHO has issued new guidance to help countries cope with severe cuts in external health funding, which threaten essential health services. The guidance emphasizes prioritizing health, protecting budgets, improving efficiency, and fostering global solidarity, with examples of countries taking proactive measures. It aims to support countries in transitioning towards sustainable, self-reliant health financing systems amidst projected aid reductions of up to 40% in 2025.
Several major health systems in the Philadelphia area, including Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine, and Temple Health, have reinstated mask requirements for patients, staff, and visitors due to a surge in COVID and flu cases. The resurgence in respiratory illnesses has prompted these health systems to expand masking requirements and closely monitor positive cases among employees and patients. With COVID and flu cases on the rise, health officials are urging the public to adhere to these new mask mandates to prevent further spread of illnesses.
The question of whether health systems and insurers will cover the cost of weight-loss drugs, such as "skinny jabs," is being raised. While these drugs have shown promising results in clinical trials, their high cost and potential side effects pose challenges for widespread coverage. Some argue that the long-term health benefits and potential cost savings from treating obesity-related conditions could justify coverage, while others express concerns about the ethical implications and the need for more evidence on the drugs' effectiveness.
Doctors around the world have reported a link between Covid-19 and acute onset diabetes, or New-Onset Diabetes in Covid-19. Large-scale observational studies have shown the link between the two diseases, with around one in 20 new diabetes cases being linked to Covid. The interplay between Covid and diabetes is still not fully understood, but experts talk of a possible “bi-directional relationship”. This means that people with diabetes are not only at greater risk of serious disease but that Covid may actually trigger diabetes in otherwise healthy people.
Thirteen health systems in Michigan are relaxing their masking policies and making them optional in most areas under updated policies that go into effect Friday or early next week. The decision was influenced by a statewide decline in inpatient COVID-19 cases and effective medical treatments and vaccines to combat the virus. The masking guidelines are not permanent and can be adjusted if COVID-19 or other viruses begin spreading rapidly. All health systems will continue to provide stations with free masks and hand sanitizer at entrances for patients, visitors, and team members who choose to use them.
Many health systems in Michigan have announced changes to mask guidelines, making mask wearing optional due to the decrease in the number of COVID-19 inpatients and various ways to combat the virus. Health facilities will continue to provide free masks and hand sanitizer, and patients can ask for health staff to wear masks. The masking guidelines may change in the future if the state experiences an increase in COVID-19 or other virus cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 55 countries as vulnerable for availability of health workers required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal target for universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. The impact of COVID-19 and widespread disruptions to health services has resulted in a rapid acceleration in the international recruitment of health workers. WHO has released an updated health workforce support and safeguards list 2023, which recommends measures to ensure adequate supply of health workers in the source countries and limit active international recruitment.
