More from Health & Medicine

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  Olivia Munn Embraces Self-Kindness After Cancer

  US actress Olivia Munn has opened up about how her 2023 breast cancer diagnosis transformed her approach to self-care, leading her to be much kinder and more forgiving toward herself. After undergoing multiple surgeries including a double mastectomy, she now advocates for lifetime risk assessment tests and supports others facing similar battles. Munn also highlighted how this journey helped her appreciate the present moment, especially with her young children. Moving forward, she continues to raise awareness and promote early detection to save lives.

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  Coral’s AI Slashes Healthcare Admin Time

  Coral, a New York startup, has raised $12.5 million to automate the tedious administrative tasks in healthcare using AI that reads handwritten faxes and processes prior authorizations in under five minutes. This innovation eliminates the need for providers to change their workflows, dramatically reducing wait times and boosting efficiency. With millions in revenue within a year and plans to quadruple growth by 2026, Coral is transforming how specialty healthcare providers handle paperwork. Next, the company aims to empower providers with AI tools to customize their own administrative processes.

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  Influencers Push Nicotine as Wellness Boost

  A wave of influencers tied to the Make America Healthy Again Movement are marketing nicotine as a natural health hack, challenging decades of medical consensus. They claim nicotine offers cognitive and wellness benefits, despite warnings from health experts about its addictive risks. This trend raises alarms among medical professionals who fear misinformation could lead to increased nicotine use. Authorities are now debating how to counter this narrative while educating the public on the true dangers.

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  Edo Carnival Prize Delay Resolved

  After weeks of backlash over delayed prize payments, the organisers of the Edo Carnival have finally paid winners of the maiden band competition in a ceremony held on April 18 in Benin City. This resolution ends a controversy that had sparked widespread criticism and doubts about the festival's credibility. Co-convener Daniel Eromosele clarified that the Edo State Government was only a supporting partner, not the organiser, and highlighted the event's cultural and economic significance. Looking ahead, organisers plan a bigger, better 2026 edition with improved coordination and funding.

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  Burkina Faso's Mental Health Crisis Deepens

  Burkina Faso faces a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with only 103 specialists serving over 20 million people. Cultural beliefs often attribute mental illness to supernatural causes, complicating treatment and awareness. Despite having 683 community mental health facilities, access and quality remain poor, with many relying on spiritual healers. Experts warn urgent investment and culturally sensitive education are needed to address this growing crisis.

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  Oscar Health Unveils New Insurance Hub

  Oscar Health has launched a new consumer marketplace that links users to a broad range of individual health insurance plans, including supplemental coverage beyond its own offerings. This move aims to simplify the insurance shopping experience and expand consumer choice. Industry watchers see this as a potential game-changer in how health insurance is bought and sold. Next steps will focus on growing the platform's reach and integrating more insurers.

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  Pfizer Faces Monkey Research Backlash

  Pfizer is under fire after allegations surfaced that it mishandled nearly 36 research monkeys, violating its own animal welfare standards. The controversy exposes a troubling gap in health assessment guidelines for monkeys before they enter medical studies, raising ethical and scientific integrity concerns. Animal rights groups are demanding accountability as the debate intensifies. The outcome could reshape protocols for primate research in the pharmaceutical industry.

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  PBMs Slam Trump’s Drug Price Transparency Plan

  Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have strongly opposed the Trump administration's proposal requiring them to disclose detailed drug pricing information to employers. The Department of Labor's rule aims to increase transparency and allow easier audits, but PBMs argue the plan is illegal and threatens their business model. Over 500 public comments reveal a split: PBMs and insurers resist, while some business voices support more accountability. The debate highlights ongoing tensions in drug pricing reform as the administration pushes forward.

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  Brushing Teeth Cuts Hospital Pneumonia

  A major new study from Australia reveals that daily toothbrushing in hospitals can slash the risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia by 60%. Led by Brett Mitchell at Avondale University, the trial involved 8,870 patients and showed that providing toothbrushes, toothpaste, and education dramatically lowered pneumonia cases. This simple, low-cost intervention could save lives and reduce healthcare costs globally. Next steps include wider implementation and further research on patient groups.