Latest news with #healthstrategy
CNN
a day ago
- Health
- CNN
New ‘Make America Healthy Again' report to be released in weeks
Americans will have to wait several weeks for the Trump administration's next steps in its agenda to 'Make America Healthy Again,' according to three people familiar with the matter. While President Donald Trump's MAHA Commission will submit its strategy to the White House on Tuesday — sticking to an executive-ordered deadline — scheduling issues stand in the way of its public release. The commission is 'on track' to deliver its report to the White House by August 12, White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. 'The report will be unveiled to the public shortly thereafter as we coordinate the schedules of the President and the various cabinet members who are a part of the Commission.' Officials are aiming to launch their strategy by the end of this month, according to the three people familiar. The commission's first MAHA report, issued in May, laid out the case that ultraprocessed foods, pharmaceutical prescriptions and environmental toxins are driving a crisis of childhood chronic disease in America. Much of the reports' findings echoed longtime arguments of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who leads the commission. The second installment is expected to propose strategies and reforms to tackle those issues. Actions can include, per the president's executive order, ending certain federal practices that 'exacerbate the health crisis' and 'adding powerful new solutions.' Public health experts, MAHA supporters and industry advocates alike have been anxiously awaiting the commission's recommendations, and how far they will go. There is lingering unease among farmers and agricultural groups after the first report flagged studies that suggest links between commonly used pesticides and various illnesses such as cancer and liver problems. Groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation called those 'unproven theories' and warned that calling use of common pesticides into question could jeopardize Americans' confidence in the food supply. Federal health and agricultural officials sought to reassure farmers in the ensuing weeks. This month, a high-ranking Enviornmental Protection Agency official told attendees at a sugar industry conference that agencies would 'respect' the current regulatory framework, as reported by DTN Progressive Farmer, an agriculture news and analysis company. Another potential battleground is the federal path forward on ultraprocessed foods. Kennedy has led a public campaign for major food brands to voluntarily remove artificial additives and dyes from popular products, but nutrition advocates have pushed for the administration to crack down with regulations. This month, a former leader of the US Food and Drug Administration challenged the agency to remove ultraprocessed foods from the market by essentially outlawing certain ingredients. But some have remained skeptical that federal MAHA leaders will take drastic action. 'We need policies to change big food and the food system, so it produces healthier foods,' Jim Krieger, executive director of Healthy Food America, said in a news briefing Monday. 'Will [the MAHA commission] move beyond PR efforts, voluntary agreements and handshakes — none of which have really worked to improve the food system in the past — and suggest regulatory action with real teeth?'
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Major new NHS plan vows to end ‘8am scramble' for GP appointment
The NHS is set for a radical overhaul with a new 10-year plan aiming to "fundamentally rewire" the health service, shifting care directly to people's doorsteps, the Prime Minister has announced. Published by the government today, the ambitious strategy outlines "three big shifts" in how the NHS will operate. These include a transition from analogue to digital services, a greater emphasis on prevention over treatment, and a significant move from hospital -centric care towards community-based provision. The plan signals an end to the "status quo of hospital by default," with a clear intention to relocate care into local neighbourhoods and individuals' homes. By 2035, the majority of outpatient services are expected to be delivered outside traditional hospital settings, reducing the need for hospital appointments for conditions such as eye care, cardiology, respiratory medicine, and mental health. To facilitate this transformation, new neighbourhood health services are set to be rolled out nationwide. These will bring essential services like diagnostic tests, post-operative care, nursing support, and mental health teams closer to communities, making healthcare more accessible and integrated into daily life. The announcement comes as Sir Keir Starmer is also expected to unveil his own vision for the NHS later today, which will focus on "three big shifts" in the health service. The aim is to give people access to a full range of services, leaving hospitals to focus on the sickest, with neighbourhood health centres opening at evenings and weekends. These will be staffed by teams including nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff and paramedics. New services will also include debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or obesity services – all of which affect people's health. Community outreach, with people going door to door, could also reduce pressure on GPs and A&E, the Government said. The plans also outline training for thousands more GPs, as the Government pledges to 'bring back the family doctor' and end the '8am scramble' to get an appointment. Sir Keir said: 'The NHS should be there for everyone, whenever they need it. 'But we inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future. 'That ends now. Because it's reform or die. Our 10-year health plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people's doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place. 'That means giving everyone access to GPs, nurses and wider support all under one roof in their neighbourhood – rebalancing our health system so that it fits around patients ' lives, not the other way round. 'This is not an overnight fix, but our Plan for Change is already turning the tide on years of decline with over four million extra appointments, 1,900 more GPs, and waiting lists at their lowest level for two years. 'But there's more to come. This Government is giving patients easier, quicker and more convenient care, wherever they live.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the plan would deliver 'one of the most fundamental changes in the way we receive our healthcare in history'. He added: 'By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated. 'This Government's Plan for Change is creating an NHS truly fit for the future, keeping patients healthy and out of hospital, with care closer to home and in the home.' In a bid to free up time, GPs will be encouraged to use artificial intelligence to take notes, while technology will be used to speed up the answering of calls to surgeries. Dental therapists, who tend to carry out some of the straightforward work of dentists, could undertake check-ups, treatment and referrals, according to the plan. And there will be a new requirement for newly-qualified dentists to practise in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be three years, according to the Government. Ministers also want to improve access to dental care for children, such as by allowing dental nurses to give fluoride varnish to children in between check-ups. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ''A neighbourhood health service is a bold vision and it needs nursing staff in the driving seat. 'The Prime Minister must back up his plan with a clear one to turn around the shortage of nurses in all local communities. 'Moving care away from overcrowded hospitals is urgent and necessary but it will prove impossible whilst this part of the healthcare workforce is so depleted and undervalued. 'Crucial teams of district nursing and health visiting staff, who keep patients well and safe at home, have fallen by thousands in the last decade or more.' Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said: 'Top quality community services, like district nursing, end of life care and rehabilitation, are, in pockets of the country, already working around the clock to fit care around patients' needs, working closely with GPs, charities and council staff. 'This approach is essential if we want to end the disjointed ways of working that too often leave patients to do the time-consuming and often bewildering job of joining up their own care.' She said, however, that a lack of detail on how it will all work 'casts doubt on whether it will stick'. She added: 'What's more, care closer to home doesn't mean care on the cheap. 'While ministers are always keen to cite examples of community services saving money, often this kind of care costs more, not less… let's be under no illusion, this is not a money-saving measure.' Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund, said: 'As the Government publishes its 10-year plan for health today, what patients, the public and those working in the NHS will want to know is, why it will be different this time, and how soon it will lead to improvements? 'When will it mean people can see a GP more easily, or get mental health support for their child, or not wait hours in A&E? 'There is plenty to welcome in the details we've seen so far, with the biggest changes outlined being about how people access NHS services, with the rollout of new neighbourhood health centres and a much greater role for the NHS app. 'At the King's Fund our call for a fundamental shift of care from hospital to community and a more people-first approach has been echoed by successive governments, so, whilst welcome, the vision itself is not new, the radical change would be delivering the vision.'
The Independent
29-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Government's new health strategy ‘no more than hiding the crisps', Tories say
The Government's 10-year health strategy to tackle demand on the NHS centres on 'hiding the crisps', a shadow minister has said. Under new proposals, retailers could be made to set targets to increase their sales of less fattening products. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said setting mandatory targets for supermarkets was 'nanny state'. 'They had 14 years in opposition to think about what they wanted to do about the NHS, they've had a year in government, and the number one thing in it seems to be hide the crisps,' she told Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips. 'It's obviously the nanny state, but it's also not what people want for the NHS. ' People want to hear how they're going to get to see their GP. 'Telling people what to buy, I think, is not up to government. I believe in personal responsibility.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the same programme the Government will work with supermarkets to help 'nudge people in the right direction'. 'By taking the approach we're taking with supermarkets, they will decide through the combination of where they put their products, how they do price promotions, the reformulation, what products they choose to put on the shelves,' he said. 'They will work with us to make sure that we nudge people in the right direction without any of us even noticing, in the same way that we've nudged the country in the other direction since the 1990s.' Rejecting suggestions that the idea was too controlling, he said it was different to 'traditional nanny statism, where we regulate more heavily on price, on marketing, on what's sold'. Labour's 10-year health plan is set to be published next week. Other changes could include money for hospitals being linked to patient ratings. According to the Times, part of the proposals will see patients contacted a few weeks after their hospital treatment for feedback. Based on their responses, money could be diverted to a local 'improvement fund'. Another proposal could see NHS users awarded points for upping their step count and eating healthily. Points can then be traded for vouchers, with discounts at supermarkets and coffee shops, according to The Sun. Hundreds of bodies responsible for overseeing and running parts of the NHS in England are likely to be scrapped as part of the changes. Mr Streeting has said the current system is too complex and needs reform.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Government's new health strategy ‘no more than hiding the crisps', Tories say
The Government's 10-year health strategy to tackle demand on the NHS centres on 'hiding the crisps', a shadow minister has said. Under new proposals, retailers could be made to set targets to increase their sales of less fattening products. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said setting mandatory targets for supermarkets was 'nanny state'. 'They had 14 years in opposition to think about what they wanted to do about the NHS, they've had a year in government, and the number one thing in it seems to be hide the crisps,' she told Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips. 'It's obviously the nanny state, but it's also not what people want for the NHS. 'People want to hear how they're going to get to see their GP. 'Telling people what to buy, I think, is not up to government. I believe in personal responsibility.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the same programme the Government will work with supermarkets to help 'nudge people in the right direction'. 'By taking the approach we're taking with supermarkets, they will decide through the combination of where they put their products, how they do price promotions, the reformulation, what products they choose to put on the shelves,' he said. 'They will work with us to make sure that we nudge people in the right direction without any of us even noticing, in the same way that we've nudged the country in the other direction since the 1990s.' Rejecting suggestions that the idea was too controlling, he said it was different to 'traditional nanny statism, where we regulate more heavily on price, on marketing, on what's sold'. Labour's 10-year health plan is set to be published next week. Other changes could include money for hospitals being linked to patient ratings. According to the Times, part of the proposals will see patients contacted a few weeks after their hospital treatment for feedback. Based on their responses, money could be diverted to a local 'improvement fund'. Another proposal could see NHS users awarded points for upping their step count and eating healthily. Points can then be traded for vouchers, with discounts at supermarkets and coffee shops, according to The Sun. Hundreds of bodies responsible for overseeing and running parts of the NHS in England are likely to be scrapped as part of the changes. Mr Streeting has said the current system is too complex and needs reform.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Oman: Sweet tax — has it helped?
Muscat: Governments worldwide have been increasingly exploring fiscal measures, such as excise taxes, to address public health concerns related to the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages high in sugar, salt, or fat. The rationale behind these taxes is that increasing the price of these products will discourage consumption, potentially leading to improved dietary habits and health outcomes. Oman has implemented such taxes as part of its public health strategy. Oman introduced excise taxes on specific goods, including certain unhealthy items, as part of its commitment to public health and diversifying government revenue. An initial phase of excise tax implementation began in June 2019, primarily targeting tobacco products, energy drinks and carbonated drinks. A subsequent expansion in July 2020 broadened the scope to include other sweetened drinks and specific food items deemed unhealthy, such as chips, certain types of chocolate and biscuits. The tax rates applied vary, with a common rate of 50 per cent on sweetened drinks and 100 per cent on products like tobacco and energy drinks. The primary intended effect of imposing excise taxes on junk food and soft drinks is to reduce their consumption. By increasing the retail price, these products become less affordable for consumers. 'Economic theory suggests that demand for goods typically decreases as prices rise, especially if consumers can substitute them with cheaper alternatives. In the context of unhealthy foods and drinks, the hope is that consumers will either reduce their overall intake of these items or switch to untaxed, healthier options like water, unsweetened beverages, fruits, or vegetables,' said an economic researcher. He said that beyond reducing consumption, these taxes are intended to generate revenue for the government. 'This revenue can potentially be earmarked for public health initiatives, such as health education campaigns promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles, or for subsidising healthier food options, further supporting the public health goals,' he said. Evidence from various countries that have implemented similar taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and unhealthy foods generally indicates a reduction in the sales and consumption of the taxed products. The magnitude of this reduction can vary depending on factors such as the tax rate, how the tax is passed on to consumers, the availability of untaxed substitutes and the price sensitivity of the population. While the immediate impact on purchasing decisions is primarily financial, the tax policy itself can contribute to raising public awareness about healthy versus unhealthy choices. However, the impact is not always straightforward. Regarding the impact on health consciousness, while the tax primarily works through price mechanisms, it can contribute indirectly. The public discourse surrounding the introduction of such taxes often highlights the health reasons behind them, which can increase awareness. Moreover, if the tax revenue is used to fund health promotion programmes, this can directly contribute to educating the public and fostering greater health consciousness. 'Consumers might switch to untaxed, but still unhealthy, alternatives. The effect on overall calorie intake or nutritional quality of diets can therefore be complex and requires careful evaluation. I know many people who still take unhealthy taxed drinks just like before. Here I mean 100 per cent on products like tobacco and energy drinks,' Abdullah al Khaldi, a parent said. So far, there is no specific data on the long-term impact of Oman's excise tax on consumption patterns and health outcomes. However, based on international experience, it is reasonable to expect that the tax has led to some reduction in the consumption of the taxed items in Oman. But for some, such taxes have made a difference. 'I used to drink one energy drink daily but ever since the prices went up, I have tried to reduce. Now I just buy them whenever I come across them, maybe once a week only. So, I would say tax increase has impacted my intake, Therefore, these taxes serve as a tool within a broader public health strategy aimed at improving dietary habits and promoting health awareness in Oman,' said Sufian Jamal, a private sector employee. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
