The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) officially launched its robotic-assisted surgery program at St Bernard's Hospital on January 27, 2026. This initiative, supported by MicroPort, Kusuma Trust, and Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, marks a significant advancement in local surgical care, offering enhanced precision and expanding treatment options for patients.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its Calendar Year 2027 Advance Notice, outlining proposed changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D. Key proposals include a near-flat payment increase, significant updates to risk adjustment models, and revisions to the Star Ratings system, impacting beneficiaries and plans nationwide.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has presented a $260 billion Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, emphasizing affordability and economic growth. The plan includes significant investments in child care, education, and healthcare, while notably proposing no new income tax increases for New Yorkers. The budget also maintains the state's AA+ credit rating and allocates substantial reserves.
A new patient safety initiative, 'Jess's Rule', has been rolled out across all 6,170 GP practices in England. Launched in September 2025, the campaign encourages General Practitioners to 'reflect, review, and rethink' diagnoses if a patient presents three times with unresolved or worsening symptoms, aiming to prevent diagnostic errors and save lives. It is inspired by Jessica Brady, who died from undiagnosed cancer.
President Donald J. Trump convened a White House roundtable on January 16, 2026, to underscore a '$50 billion Great, Historic Investment in Rural Health' through the Rural Health Transformation Program, with a video released on January 17, 2026.
Over 7,000 nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center in New York City ended a three-day strike in January 2023, securing tentative agreements that included a 19% wage increase and enforceable safe staffing ratios, addressing critical concerns over patient care and working conditions.
Independent doctors across France are engaged in a ten-day strike, which began on January 5, 2026, and culminates today, January 10, with a significant demonstration in Paris. They are protesting the proposed 2026 Social Security budget, citing concerns over insufficient funding, fee regulation, and threats to their professional autonomy.
Iceland's Minister of Health, Alma Möller, has approved nearly ISK 80 million in grants for rural healthcare facilities. The funding, announced on January 8, 2026, includes ISK 32 million for backup power plants in key locations and additional funds for essential medical equipment, aiming to enhance service continuity outside the capital area.
Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes initially denied former President Jair Bolsonaro's request for hospital tests after he fell and hit his head in prison. The decision was based on a federal police doctor's assessment. However, the request was later authorized, and Bolsonaro underwent medical examinations at DF Star Hospital in Brasília.
Bulgaria's medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, are grappling with unfulfilled promises of pay raises due to the country's persistent political instability. The recent resignation of the government has frozen financial plans, exacerbating a severe healthcare workforce crisis and prompting renewed threats of protests from medical associations demanding significant wage increases.
Nigeria experienced a dramatic 96.2% decline in medical tourism spending in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria reveals expenditure dropped from $2.38 million to just $0.09 million, driven by economic pressures, foreign exchange policies, and a growing reliance on domestic healthcare services.
DGB Bavaria has defended the practice of telephone sick notes, countering criticism from the CSU which links the method to an increase in sick days. The trade union federation emphasizes the benefits of the system and points to other factors contributing to higher absenteeism rates in Germany.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has denied former President Jair Bolsonaro's request for house arrest, citing no worsening of his health condition following recent surgery. Bolsonaro, serving a 27-year sentence for a coup plot, will remain in federal police custody in Brasília.
Ireland's Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, announced significant progress in virtual care, with virtual wards expanding across the country. These initiatives aim to improve patient outcomes, facilitate recovery at home, and alleviate pressure on hospital capacity, building on successful pilot programs and a national digital health strategy.
Germany's health insurance association, GKV-Spitzenverband, has issued a stark warning that several care funds could face insolvency next year, necessitating emergency aid. Despite existing federal loans totaling billions, the long-term care insurance system is under severe financial strain due to rising costs, an increasing number of care recipients, and structural deficits, prompting calls for comprehensive reform.
NHS England forecasts significant use of the NHS App this Christmas Day, with over 37,800 people in the North West alone expected to access services. Nationally, more than 313,000 users logged in last Christmas, highlighting the app's growing role in managing health during the festive period when traditional services may have reduced hours.
Japan's government will raise overall medical service fees by 2.22% in fiscal year 2026, marking the first increase in 12 years. This includes a significant 3.09% average hike in the portion covering medical worker labor costs over two years, aimed at combating inflation and supporting healthcare institutions. Drug prices will see a slight reduction.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has received authorization for temporary leave from the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasília to undergo surgery for a bilateral inguinal hernia. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved the medical procedure but rejected his request for house arrest, citing prior conduct and flight risk.
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party have agreed to cut national medical costs by 188 billion yen annually, starting next fiscal year. The plan involves revising drug insurance coverage, including additional patient payments for certain prescription medicines similar to over-the-counter drugs.
Thousands of non-medical staff in Lower Austrian doctor's offices, group practices, and primary care units are set to receive a retroactive 3.55 percent increase in minimum wages and allowances, along with a one-time tax-free employee bonus of up to 1,000 Euros, following a recent agreement.
