Global Pulse

分类： health

  • China records continued improvement in child health in 2024

    China records continued improvement in child health in 2024

    China demonstrated marked progress across multiple child welfare indicators throughout 2024, according to an official statistical monitoring report released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The comprehensive assessment reveals substantial improvements in pediatric healthcare infrastructure, food safety standards, and early childhood education accessibility.

    Critical mortality metrics showed consistent decline, with the neonatal mortality rate dropping to 2.5 per thousand—a reduction of 0.3 points from 2023 figures. Similarly, infant mortality decreased to 4.0 per thousand (down 0.5 points), while the under-five mortality rate fell to 5.6 per thousand, representing a 0.6-point improvement over the previous year.

    The nation’s healthcare infrastructure expanded significantly, with 3,073 maternal and child health institutions and 162 specialized children’s hospitals operational by year’s end. Food safety achieved exceptional standards with infant formula milk powder passing safety inspections at a remarkable 99.88% rate.

    Educational access widened as preschool enrollment reached 92.0%, a 0.9 percentage point increase from 2023. Concurrently, digital protection efforts intensified with the removal of over 5.485 million instances of illegal and harmful online content that endangered young users.

    These developments reflect China’s ongoing implementation of the National Program for Child Development (2021-2030), demonstrating coordinated progress across healthcare, nutrition, education, and digital safety sectors.

  • Pakistan’s polio cases fell by half in 2025 despite attacks on vaccination teams

    Pakistan’s polio cases fell by half in 2025 despite attacks on vaccination teams

    ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s national health authorities have announced a remarkable 59% reduction in polio cases for 2025, marking significant progress in the country’s prolonged eradication campaign. Official data reveals only 30 confirmed polio infections throughout the year, compared to 74 cases documented during the previous year’s reporting period.

    The encouraging statistics were released by the government-operated Polio Eradication Initiative following the conclusion of Pakistan’s final nationwide vaccination drive targeting approximately 45 million children. Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, confirmed to international media that no fresh infections have been detected anywhere across the country since September 2025.

    This epidemiological achievement comes despite persistent security challenges that have plagued vaccination efforts for decades. Militant groups continue to target health workers and their security details based on conspiracy theories alleging vaccination campaigns represent Western plots to sterilize Muslim children. Since the 1990s, over 200 polio workers and protecting police officers have been killed in such attacks.

    Health authorities reported reaching over 98% of the target population during the most recent vaccination campaign. However, access limitations remain particularly acute in certain districts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where security constraints and community resistance continue to hamper immunization activities.

    Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan maintain the dubious distinction of being the world’s only remaining countries where wild poliovirus transmission persists. Health officials acknowledge both the substantial momentum gained and the lingering vulnerabilities in the decades-long eradication effort. While vaccination coverage has dramatically improved and case numbers have plummeted, low-level transmission in inaccessible regions continues to pose significant risks of resurgence.

    The government has announced plans to launch the first anti-polio campaign of the new year during February’s first week, maintaining continuous pressure on the virus through sustained immunization efforts.

  • China launches action plan on children’s health

    China launches action plan on children’s health

    China has initiated a comprehensive national strategy targeting the holistic wellbeing of its younger generation. On December 30, 2025, authorities unveiled a detailed five-year action plan specifically designed to confront the most pressing health concerns affecting children and adolescents across the nation.

    The ambitious initiative, jointly promulgated by the National Health Commission alongside twelve other governmental bodies, identifies five critical health domains requiring immediate intervention: childhood obesity, visual impairment from myopia, psychological health challenges, spinal development abnormalities, and dental caries.

    By the decade’s end in 2030, the program aims to achieve substantial reductions in pediatric obesity rates while simultaneously elevating the percentage of elementary and secondary students meeting national physical fitness benchmarks to a minimum of 60%. The strategy further prioritizes reversing the growing trend of myopia among youth while establishing robust mental health support systems, including mandating certified mental health professionals in all educational institutions.

    Educational establishments and guardians will receive specialized guidance to encourage physical activity, alleviate academic pressures, and promote proper physical posture. The program mandates universal spinal screening within school environments to safeguard musculoskeletal development.

    Concerning oral health, the initiative emphasizes preventive dental care education and establishes requirements for maternal and childcare centers to provide oral healthcare services for children under six years old. The plan institutes annual dental examinations for school attendees to combat tooth decay through early detection and intervention.

  • Controlling blood sugar cut heart disease risk in half, says study

    Controlling blood sugar cut heart disease risk in half, says study

    A groundbreaking medical study has demonstrated that individuals who successfully reverse prediabetes by achieving normal blood glucose levels can reduce their risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization by approximately 50% over two decades. The research, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on December 12, 2025, provides compelling evidence that early intervention for prediabetes yields substantial long-term cardiovascular benefits.

    The investigation represents a comprehensive follow-up analysis of two major diabetes prevention trials—the U.S. Diabetes Prevention Program (1996-2001) and a parallel study conducted in China. Researchers tracked participants for 20-30 years post-intervention, revealing that those who attained blood glucose remission within the first year of intervention experienced dramatically better cardiovascular outcomes regardless of whether they achieved normalization through intensive lifestyle modifications or pharmaceutical intervention with metformin.

    Approximately 11% of participants in the U.S. trial and 13% in the Chinese trial successfully reached normal glucose levels. Both cohorts demonstrated remarkably similar risk reduction patterns—approximately 50% lower incidence of fatal heart disease and heart failure hospitalization compared to those who maintained elevated glucose levels. This protective effect persisted even after accounting for subsequent diabetes development and other confounding factors.

    Medical experts highlight the physiological mechanisms behind this protective effect: normalizing glucose levels reduces abdominal fat deposition, decreases systemic inflammation, and enhances insulin sensitivity—all critical factors in cardiovascular health. The findings challenge current clinical guidelines that primarily focus on delaying diabetes progression rather than actively pursuing glucose normalization.

    Despite the promising results, researchers acknowledge the practical challenges. The relatively low remission rates in both trials underscore the difficulty of achieving sustained glucose normalization. Contemporary experts speculate that newer therapeutic options, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists that were unavailable during the original trials, might improve remission rates when combined with lifestyle interventions.

    The study reinforces that blood glucose management represents just one component of comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction, emphasizing that maintaining healthy weight, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity remain essential complementary strategies.

  • From hospitals to health systems: How connected care will redefine GCC healthcare by 2026

    From hospitals to health systems: How connected care will redefine GCC healthcare by 2026

    The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) healthcare sector is undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift, moving from hospital-centric models toward integrated, digitally-connected care ecosystems. By 2026, regional healthcare excellence will be measured not by physical infrastructure alone, but through seamless connectivity between data systems, medical professionals, and patients.

    This transformation centers on operational excellence powered by digital integration. The ability to coordinate care across clinics, hospitals, diagnostic centers, pharmacies, insurers, and virtual platforms will determine overall healthcare outcomes, efficiency, and sustainability across the region.

    GCC nations are rapidly abandoning fragmented care models in favor of longitudinal patient data as the foundation of healthcare delivery. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), interoperable health information exchanges, AI-driven clinical decision support systems, and digital diagnostics are converging to create comprehensive patient profiles. This technological integration enables physicians to transition from reactive treatment to proactive, evidence-based, and personalized care protocols.

    National platforms including Dubai’s NABIDH, Abu Dhabi’s Malaffi, and UAE-wide Riayati are already facilitating secure data exchange between public and private providers. These systems have evolved beyond pilot stages to become operational backbones of clinical infrastructure, enhancing care continuity while reducing duplication, errors, and treatment delays.

    Achieving connected care at scale demands significant operational maturity beyond technological implementation. This includes workforce optimization, capacity planning, insurance integration, and digitally-enabled workflows that minimize friction throughout patient journeys.

    The UAE demonstrates this operational shift through measurable progress. Dubai Health Authority reports indicate doctor numbers increased to 11,890 in 2022—a 10.2% year-on-year growth—with doctor density improving to 3.35 per 1,000 population. This expanded clinical capacity, combined with digital platforms, substantially improves specialist access and reduces waiting times.

    Hospital infrastructure management has also evolved, with providers maintaining optimal bed occupancy rates of 75% to balance utilization with surge capacity readiness—a critical capability given regional population growth and rising chronic disease prevalence.

    Mandatory health insurance has emerged as a crucial enabler of connected care ecosystems across the GCC. Near-universal insurance coverage in markets like the UAE has transformed healthcare access, affordability, and continuity. As systems mature, incorporating long-term residents including Golden Visa holders into comprehensive insurance frameworks will be essential for sustaining the shift from episodic treatment to preventive, value-based care.

    Uniform coverage enables healthcare systems to prioritize preventive measures and chronic disease management over acute interventions, strengthening risk pooling mechanisms and improving population health outcomes. By 2026, insurance data integrated with clinical systems will play a pivotal role in driving value-based care models where outcomes rather than volumes define success.

    In fully connected care models, operational efficiency directly enhances patient experience. Imagine cardiac patients whose wearable devices continuously transmit vital data to physicians, seamlessly integrated into EMRs. Virtual consultations supported by AI-driven trend analysis could lead to digital prescriptions fulfilled by online pharmacies within 30-60 minutes.

    This vision is already becoming reality across the UAE, supported by growing investments in telehealth, remote monitoring, AI diagnostics, and digital pharmacies. With GCC healthcare expenditure projected to grow from $109.1 billion in 2024 to $159 billion by 2029 at a 7.8% compound annual growth rate, innovation scale and pace will accelerate dramatically.

    Demographic changes make this transformation imperative. The UAE’s population is projected to reach 11.1 million by 2030, with residents aged 65 and above increasing from 1.1% to 4.4%. This aging population, combined with high non-communicable disease prevalence, demands continuous, coordinated, and cost-effective healthcare models.

    Connected care enables providers to manage chronic conditions more effectively, reduce hospital admissions, and support aging populations with dignity while maintaining system sustainability.

    By 2026, GCC healthcare leaders will be those who have mastered the operational choreography of connected care—where data flows seamlessly, clinicians collaborate effortlessly, and patients experience care as a continuous journey rather than isolated encounters. The region, led by the UAE, possesses both the vision and infrastructure to achieve this transformation, with execution refinement, stakeholder alignment, and digital-first clinical practice embedding representing the remaining challenges.

    The future of GCC healthcare will be built connection by connection rather than brick by brick—and that future is already taking shape.

  • Abu Dhabi becomes global first to administer Itvisma gene therapy

    Abu Dhabi becomes global first to administer Itvisma gene therapy

    Abu Dhabi has achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone by becoming the first global location to administer Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec), an innovative gene therapy treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The historic procedure was performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), operated by SEHA under PureHealth, with oversight from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).

    This revolutionary single-dose gene therapy, developed by pharmaceutical giant Novartis, received accelerated approval from UAE health authorities on November 25, 2025. The achievement positions the United Arab Emirates as the first country outside the United States to implement this cutting-edge treatment, demonstrating Abu Dhabi’s emerging leadership in advanced medical innovation.

    ITVISMA represents a significant advancement in genetic medicine, specifically designed to address the root genetic cause of SMA in patients aged two years and older with confirmed SMN1 gene mutations. Unlike conventional treatments that require ongoing management, this one-time therapy replaces the missing SMN1 gene to enhance motor function and potentially transform patient outcomes.

    Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of DoH, emphasized the significance of this achievement: “By administering ITVISMA, we are proud to be among the first to provide this innovative treatment, further reinforcing our role as a leader and accelerator in advanced and innovative healthcare.”

    Bader Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer at SKMC, highlighted the collaborative effort behind this medical breakthrough: “Delivering the world’s first ITVISMA treatment at SKMC is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s integrated healthcare ecosystem under the leadership of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.”

    This medical advancement signals a new era for regional healthcare accessibility, positioning Abu Dhabi as a emerging destination for cutting-edge medical treatments and establishing the UAE as a significant player in the global healthcare innovation landscape.

  • Seen more mosquitoes? UAE authority issues tips to prevent disease risk

    Seen more mosquitoes? UAE authority issues tips to prevent disease risk

    The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Health and Prevention has issued an urgent advisory concerning increased mosquito activity during the cooler winter months. As residents increasingly engage in outdoor activities, health authorities warn that rising mosquito populations significantly elevate the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, making effective control measures essential for public health protection.

    Health officials have identified stagnant water sources as primary breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which thrive in humid conditions and can rapidly multiply following rainfall events. These insects, classified by Dubai Municipality as ‘public health pests,’ are known vectors for serious illnesses including dengue fever, with typical lifespans ranging from two to four weeks depending on environmental conditions.

    The ministry has implemented a multi-faceted approach to address the situation, urging residents to promptly report both mosquito sightings and potential breeding sites to authorities through the dedicated hotline 8003050. Medical experts advise against scratching mosquito bites and recommend applying ice packs for approximately ten minutes to alleviate itching, supplemented by anti-itch or antihistamine creams when necessary.

    Comprehensive prevention strategies include installing window and door flyscreens, utilizing chemical insecticides according to safety guidelines, and employing UV insect traps as alternative solutions for households with children or pets. Dubai residents can access complimentary pest control services through municipal channels including the call center, official application, or website chatbot.

    The ministry emphasizes the critical importance of engaging only authorized pest control providers, cautioning that improper pesticide application by unlicensed entities poses significant health and safety risks. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, or persistent body pain following mosquito bites should seek immediate medical attention, as these may indicate mosquito-borne illnesses requiring professional treatment.

  • Noisy chewing affecting ability to work? Misophonia is a daily battle, UAE doctors warn

    Noisy chewing affecting ability to work? Misophonia is a daily battle, UAE doctors warn

    Medical specialists across the United Arab Emirates are bringing attention to misophonia, a neurological condition characterized by extreme sensitivity to specific everyday sounds, warning that it represents more than mere irritation but a legitimate clinical disorder with significant consequences. Unlike typical annoyance, misophonia triggers intense emotional and physiological responses that can severely disrupt cognitive functions and social interactions.

    According to recent research cited by UAE healthcare professionals, including a PubMed-listed study titled ‘The Effect of Misophonia on Cognitive and Social Judgments,’ trigger sounds such as chewing, pen-clicking, or loud breathing can interrupt attention, impair memory recall, cloud social judgment, and disrupt overall cognitive processing. This creates substantial challenges in educational settings, open-plan offices, and family environments where these sounds are commonplace.

    Dr. Lekha Kapoor, Consultant ENT at Medcare Hospital Sharjah, explains the diagnostic process: ‘We first conduct comprehensive ENT evaluations to rule out auditory issues, then utilize the Amsterdam Misophonia Questionnaire to assess severity—ranging from mild to extreme cases.’ She notes that patients often present confused and distressed, unaware their experiences constitute a recognized medical condition.

    The psychological toll can be severe, with many patients experiencing overlapping anxiety, depression, and heightened stress. In extreme cases, the condition has been associated with suicidal tendencies due to the profound disruption to daily functioning and social relationships.

    Despite its significant impact, awareness remains limited in the UAE compared to Western nations. Dr. Amal Atwa Ibrahim, Consultant Psychiatrist at NMC Specialty Hospital, emphasizes that professional intervention—particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional regulation strategies, and practical tools like noise-cancelling headphones—can substantially improve quality of life for those affected.

  • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute launches operations in Abu Dhabi

    Bascom Palmer Eye Institute launches operations in Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi has significantly enhanced its specialized healthcare infrastructure with the official inauguration of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, marking the first international expansion of America’s top-ranked ophthalmology facility. The state-of-the-art medical center, now fully operational in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, represents a major advancement in regional eye care accessibility.

    The 70,000-square-foot standalone facility commenced operations following coordinated efforts between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the University of Miami Health System. The launch ceremony featured an exclusive tour led by Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, alongside executive directors and institutional CEOs, demonstrating the center’s advanced diagnostic suites, surgical capabilities, and patient-focused workflows.

    Dr. Al Ghaithi emphasized the strategic importance of this development: “This partnership exemplifies our ongoing commitment to delivering superior healthcare services while strengthening clinical excellence and promoting knowledge transfer. It significantly supports Abu Dhabi’s vision for an integrated, innovative healthcare ecosystem that addresses both current and future community needs.”

    The facility offers comprehensive ophthalmological services featuring specialized refractive and laser treatments, with initial clinical priorities focusing on retinal, corneal, oncologic, and pediatric ophthalmology. Medical leadership confirmed that all clinical protocols and technological implementations have been directly adapted from Bascom Palmer’s Miami operations, ensuring identical care standards that earned the institute its #1 ranking in the United States.

    Dr. Dipen J Parekh, CEO of University of Miami Health System, noted the achievement of operational readiness ahead of schedule, highlighting seamless care-pathway transitions from their American network. The center has implemented customized digital platforms and scheduling systems specifically designed for Abu Dhabi’s diverse demographic profile.

    International and GCC patients can access specialized visa support, concierge services, and bundled medical packages including post-procedure recovery options, providing alternatives to long-distance travel for advanced ocular treatments. This initiative substantially reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global healthcare destination while expanding regional access to world-class medical expertise.

  • Flu cases fall to moderate level

    Flu cases fall to moderate level

    China has witnessed a significant downturn in influenza activity, with national surveillance data indicating a descent to moderate transmission levels across most regions. According to the latest epidemiological report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the country’s flu positivity rate among influenza-like illness cases dropped to 41.9% during the week beginning December 15, 2025, marking a substantial decrease from the previous week’s 50.2% rate.

    The epidemiological landscape shows varied regional patterns, with northern, northeastern, southwestern, and northwestern provinces experiencing the most notable improvements. However, eastern, southern, and central regions continue to report elevated flu activity, maintaining high transmission levels despite the overall national decline.

    In parallel developments, educational institutions have reported a dramatic reduction in infection clusters, suggesting effective containment measures in school environments. Meanwhile, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has demonstrated an upward trajectory, particularly in northern provinces, indicating a possible epidemiological shift.

    The surveillance data further reveals fluctuating patterns for rhinovirus while confirming that SARS-CoV-2 and other monitored respiratory pathogens remain consistently at low prevalence levels, highlighting the specific nature of the current respiratory disease landscape.