Oct 23, 2024

Hey everyone,

I just heard some great news about the healthcare industry! Digital health deals are on the rise, with venture capital firms making more focused bets and interest rate cuts rekindling optimism in the sector. The pandemic was expected to boost direct-to-consumer disease treatments, digital therapeutics, and decentralized care, but adoption was slower than expected. However, there’s hope as digital health companies offering novel uses of artificial intelligence are seeing increased funding.

In other news, a coalition of 12 Philadelphia-area health systems has announced the abandonment of race adjustments in clinical tools, a move that will improve treatment and prevent delays in diagnosis for Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients. Additionally, the White House has proposed new rules that would require most health insurers to completely cover the cost of over-the-counter contraceptives like birth control pills, condoms, and Plan B, making access to reproductive care easier for many.

On the global health front, there has been a decrease in the number of cholera cases worldwide compared to last year, but unfortunately, there has been a spike in deaths. The increase in deaths is attributed to areas affected by conflict and compromised access to healthcare. Also, there’s an ongoing debate about whether primary care physicians should perform abortions, as they are currently the second-most common providers of abortion care in the US.

Overall, it’s great to see positive developments in the healthcare industry, from increased funding for digital health companies to initiatives aimed at improving patient care and access to reproductive services.

Take care,

Summy

Stay Well!