Category: Medical

The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has joined with industry groups in asking a federal court to scrap a Biden-era regulation barring consumer credit reports from including medical debt, according to court papers.

In a motion submitted on Wednesday in a Texas federal court, the CFPB joined two industry groups representing banks, credit unions and credit bureaus in asking a judge to strike down the rule, saying the CFPB had exceeded its legal authority and violated laws governing the crafting of regulations.

The rule is currently due to go into effect in June after the court issued a stay in February.

If approved by a judge, the move would undo a major policy plank championed by former Vice President Kamala Harris. Officials in the prior administration said it would remove up to $49 billion in medical debts from the credit reports of 15 million Americans.

In the United States, patients seeking medical treatment sometimes borrow to cover the cost because they either lack insurance or their plans require them to pay part of the cost.

Representatives for the CFPB and the Cornerstone Credit Union League, which had sued to block the rule, did not respond to requests for comment.

Dan Smith, president of the Consumer Data Industry Association, also a party to the lawsuit, welcomed the move, saying it would help protect a “full, fair and accurate” credit reporting system.
Among other far-reaching changes, Trump has worked to reverse much of the Biden administration’s marquee consumer safeguards.

Prior CFPB leadership said research showed medical debts, which patients do not incur out of choice, were poor indicators of borrowers’ ability to repay but could hinder consumers from accessing loans for cars, homes and small businesses.

However, the industry groups said the evidence did not support the CFPB’s decision, and the ban could leave them blind to important information about borrowers. Reuters

The Global Medical Drone Market size is expected to be worth around USD 1591.9 Million by 2033 from USD 387.4 Million in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.

Medical drones are transforming the delivery of healthcare services by providing rapid, efficient transport of medical supplies, especially in remote or disaster-hit regions. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are primarily used to deliver blood, vaccines, diagnostic samples, medicines, and emergency equipment. Their ability to bypass ground-level traffic and geographical barriers significantly reduces delivery time, which is critical during life-threatening emergencies.

Equipped with GPS navigation, real-time tracking, and temperature-controlled storage, medical drones ensure safe and timely delivery of sensitive medical materials. Rotary-wing drones are commonly used due to their vertical take-off and landing capability, allowing precise deliveries in confined spaces. In contrast, fixed-wing drones offer longer range and are ideal for inter-city or cross-border missions.

Healthcare systems in countries like Rwanda, the United States, and India have already deployed drones in routine healthcare logistics and emergency relief. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have endorsed the use of drone technology in improving healthcare access and supply chain resilience. With increasing investments and regulatory support, medical drones are poised to become a crucial element in modern healthcare logistics. Their adoption is expected to grow, driven by the need for faster, safer, and more reliable medical deliveries in underserved and high-risk regions.

Key Takeaways

• Market Overview: The global Medical Drone Market was valued at USD 387.4 million in 2023 and is projected to reach approximately USD 1,591.9 million by 2033. This growth is expected to occur at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.
• Type Segment Analysis: Rotary-wing drones held the dominant position in the type segment in 2023, capturing 67.24% of the global market share. Their ability to take off vertically, hover in place, and operate in confined spaces makes them ideal for healthcare delivery, especially in emergency and remote scenarios.
• Technology Segment Analysis: Remotely operated medical drones accounted for 43.12% of the market in 2023. These drones are favored for their ability to be controlled in real time, offering greater reliability and adaptability in mission-critical applications such as medicine and vaccine transport.
• Payload Capacity Analysis: Drones with a payload capacity of less than 2 kilograms led the market in 2023, with a 45.43% share. These lightweight drones are well-suited for rapid, short-distance deliveries of blood, medications, and diagnostic samples.
• Application Segment Analysis: Blood delivery emerged as the leading application in 2023, accounting for 40.72% of the global market share. The growing need for urgent blood supply in trauma care and disaster zones has driven demand for fast and reliable drone delivery systems.
• Regional Analysis: North America dominated the medical drone market in 2023, with a 31.25% share. The region’s leadership is attributed to well-developed healthcare infrastructure, supportive regulatory frameworks, and early adoption of advanced medical delivery technologies.

Segmentation Analysis

• Type Analysis: In 2023, rotary-wing drones led the market with a 67.24% share due to their vertical takeoff, landing ability, and excellent hovering capability. These features make them highly effective for delivering medical supplies in tight urban spaces or isolated rural areas. Fixed-wing drones, while faster and capable of longer ranges, require runways. Hybrid drones, combining both functionalities, are gaining interest for their versatility, and are expected to see increased adoption as technological innovations improve their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Technology Analysis: Remotely operated drones held 43.12% of the market in 2023, making them the most widely used technology in medical drone operations. Their real-time control allows precision and responsiveness, especially valuable in emergency medical deliveries. Semi-autonomous drones, which combine automation with operator oversight, are becoming popular for routine tasks. Fully autonomous drones, though currently with a smaller share, represent the future of scalable drone logistics. Their use is projected to grow significantly as AI and automation technologies advance.
• Payload Capacity Analysis: Drones with a payload capacity below 2 kg led the market in 2023, capturing 45.43% of the share. These lightweight models are ideal for transporting vaccines, medicines, and small diagnostic kits over short distances. The 2–5 kg capacity segment is gaining attention for its ability to carry a broader range of supplies. Drones handling over 5 kg are used in specialized cases like disaster response. Despite smaller adoption, this heavy-lift category is projected to expand with ongoing technological progress.
• Application Analysis: Blood delivery emerged as the dominant application in 2023, accounting for 40.72% of the market. Drones provide fast, lifesaving transport of blood to hospitals, especially in emergencies and infrastructure-poor regions. Medication delivery also plays a vital role, ensuring timely access to essential drugs in rural or disaster-affected areas. The diagnostics segment is expanding, with drones increasingly used to send lab samples quickly. This accelerates diagnosis and treatment, supporting improved patient outcomes and greater operational efficiency in healthcare.

Media.Market

For the second time in recent months, the Food and Drug Administration is bringing back some recently fired employees, including staffers who handle travel bookings for safety inspectors.

More than 20 of the agency’s roughly 60 travel staff will be reinstated, according to two FDA staffers notified of the plan this week, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agency matters.

Food scientists who test samples for bacteria and study potentially harmful chemicals also have been told they will get their jobs back, but have yet to receive any official confirmation.

The same uncertainty hangs over employees who process agency records for release to lawyers, companies and journalists under the Freedom of Information Act. About 100 of those staffers were recently eliminated, according to an agency official with direct knowledge of the situation.

But in recent days the FDA has missed multiple court-ordered deadlines to produce documents, which could result in hefty fines. That’s prompted plans to bring back a significant number of those staffers.

The apparent reversals are the latest examples of the haphazard approach to agency cuts that have shrunk FDA’s workforce by an estimated 20%, or about 3,500 jobs, in addition to an unspecified number of retirements, voluntary buyouts and resignations.

In February, the FDA laid off about 700 provisional employees, including food and medical device reviewers, only to rehire many of them within days after pushback from industry, Congress and other parties.

The Department of Health and Human Services hasn’t detailed exactly which positions or programs were cut in the mass layoffs.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has repeatedly said that no FDA scientists were fired as part of the reductions. But at least two dozen food scientists who worked in a San Francisco testing laboratory and a Chicago research center were let go in March.

An HHS spokesperson suggested the apparent mix-up was due to “the fractured, outdated HR infrastructure we inherited from the Biden administration and are now actively overhauling.” The spokesperson did not respond to specific questions about which employees are being reinstated but said the administration will “streamline operations and fix the broken systems left to us.”

About 15 scientists working in FDA’s Division of Food Processing Science and Technology in Chicago were told last week they be will reinstated, according to a staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agency matters. But a week later there has been no written confirmation and the scientists have not returned to the office. The group’s research includes studying ways to prevent harmful bacteria from growing on produce and preventing the spread of microplastics and other particles from food packaging.

“I hope Commissioner Makary continues to assess these ill-informed cuts and works to bring back impacted employees expeditiously,” said Susan Mayne of Yale University, the FDA’s former food director. “His legacy as commissioner is on the line.”

With more than 15,000 employees remaining across various U.S. and foreign offices, the FDA’s core responsibilities are reviewing new drugs, medical products and food ingredients as well as inspecting thousands of factories.

Makary has said no inspectors or medical reviewers were fired as part of the recent reductions. But current and former FDA officials note that those frontline employees are often supported by teams of administrative staff.

FDA inspectors, for example, have long relied on travel bookers to coordinate trips to India and other countries that often involve visa permissions, security measures, ground transportation, tech support, translation services and other logistics. Inspectors can spend up to half the year traveling, a grueling workload that makes recruiting and retaining staff a challenge.

For a brief period last month, inspectors were told they would be booking their own travel. The FDA set up a hotline to assist with making the arrangements. Then, agency leaders developed a plan to hire an outside contractor to perform the work.

On Monday, staffers were informed that about a third of the fired staff who performed the work would be returning. WFMJ.com

Lok Bandhu Hospital here will be resuming major surgeries at a temporary facility set up on the first floor of the building from Monday, hospital officials confirmed, adding a four-bed intensive care unit (ICU) was likely to be set up on the same floor shortly after.

The hospital’s operation theatre (OT), along with ICU and female medicine wards, bore extensive damage after a major fire ripped through the second floor on April 14. All patients were evacuated safely from the premises.

Chief medical superintendent Dr Rajeev Dixit said: “The OT was originally on the first floor, but had to be shifted to the second as the amenities did not meet certain hospital standards. We’ll have to go back to the earlier space until the renovations are complete.” He added 10-15 daily surgeries would still be carried out at the hospital as the temporary OT would be equipped with two surgery tables.

“First, pending cases will be looked after. Then, new cases will be taken. Until then, the new cases will be referred to other government hospitals,” he noted.

As for the makeshift ICU ward, oxygen ports and ventilator facilities must be added to the room, only after which critical care patients could be accommodated there, Dr Dixit added. The actual ICU ward had 10-15 beds.

Meanwhile, the renovations were still in the estimation and approval phase, even as the reports of the two probe teams on the mishap were still awaited. The teams, which had blamed the incident on human error, were said to be still finalising other aspects of the report before submission to authorities. Hindustan Times

In a significant step towards the launch of its much-anticipated new facility, SPARSH Hospitals recently held a traditional Pujan ceremony at the upcoming over 300-bedded SPARSH Hospital in Hennur. On this auspicious occasion, Dr. Sharan Shivaraj Patil, Chairman of SPARSH Group, along with his family and key members of the SPARSH leadership team, performed Pujan seeking divine blessings so that they can offer best-in-class services to those in need. The event marked the beginning of the final phase before the hospital becomes fully operational in mid-May.

“SPARSH Hennur represents our vision for the future of healthcare–premium infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and a deeply human touch, all under one roof. This hospital stands as a pillar of clinical excellence and plays an important role in shaping and sustaining quality healthcare in the region,” Dr. Sharan Shivaraj Patil, Chairman, SPARSH Group of Hospitals, said after performing the Pujan.

As one of Bengaluru’s fastest-growing healthcare providers, SPARSH Group of Hospitals continues to invest in building a holistic healthcare ecosystem with world-class facilities and technologies, merging clinical expertise with social responsibility. This hospital is not only a pillar of clinical excellence but also a driver of economic opportunity. It generates around 2500 direct and indirect employment opportunities. SPARSH Hennur is all set to become a contributor to the local economy and deliver world-class quality healthcare in the region.

SPARSH Hennur is designed and developed to deliver compassionate care with ethical practices. It will offer advanced specialities and high-end diagnostics. The upcoming unit is supported by world-class infrastructure and technologies. The facility’s hyperlocal focus will ensure deeper community engagement and more efficient access to expert medical services.

As one of Bengaluru’s fastest-growing healthcare providers, SPARSH Hospitals continues to invest in building a holistic healthcare ecosystem with world-class facilities and technologies, merging clinical expertise with social responsibility. The Hennur unit is a part of SPARSH’s ongoing expansion to bring high-quality, ethical, and patient-centric healthcare to people of Bengaluru and nearby areas. The focus of the Group is also on combining medical expertise with innovation to provide personalized, high-quality care across specialities. Technology-driven healthcare advancements, including real-time robotic assistance and AI diagnostics, ensure personalized, effective treatments.

SPARSH Group of Hospitals is revolutionizing healthcare through next-level precision and innovation across specialities. By integrating robotic-assisted surgeries, 3-D printing, and AI-driven diagnostics, SPARSH ensures safer, patient-centric treatments with superior outcomes. SPARSH Hospitals is advancing Organ Transplants, particularly in liver and kidney procedures. Its multidisciplinary teams utilize cutting-edge imaging, minimally invasive techniques, and precision medicine to improve transplant success rates and post-operative recovery.

The organization is also committed to equitable healthcare, and it believes that quality healthcare should not be a privilege but a right for all. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge medical advancements and those in need, SPARSH Hospitals ensure a healthier future for our nation.

SPARSH Hospitals continues to expand its facilities and introduce groundbreaking technologies, setting new standards in precision-driven, compassionate healthcare. The operationalisation of the upcoming Hennur Unit will manifest the Group’s commitment to ensuring a healthier future. Business Standard

The Trump administration is moving to cancel $1 billion in school mental health grants, saying they reflect the priorities of the previous administration.

Grant recipients were notified Tuesday that the funding will not be continued after this year. A gun violence bill signed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022 sent $1 billion to the grant programs to help schools hire more psychologists, counselors and other mental health workers.

A new notice said an Education Department review of the programs found they violated the purpose of civil rights law, conflicted with the department’s policy of prioritizing merit and fairness, and amounted to an inappropriate use of federal money.

The cuts were made public in a social media post from conservative strategist Christopher Rufo, who claimed the money was used to advance “left-wing racialism and discrimination.” He posted excerpts from several grant documents setting goals to hire certain numbers of nonwhite counselors or pursue other diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

“No more slush fund for activists under the guise of mental health,” Rufo wrote.

The Education Department confirmed the cuts. In an update to members of Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press, department officials said the Republican administration will find other ways to support mental health.

“The Department plans to re-envision and re-compete its mental health program funds to more effectively support students’ behavioral health needs,” according to the notice.

President Donald Trump’s administration has cut billions of dollars in federal grants deemed to be related to DEI and has threatened to cut billions more from schools and colleges over diversity practices.

The administration says any policy that treats people differently because of their race amounts to discrimination, and it argues that DEI has often been used to discriminate against white and Asian American students. AP

No new healthcare programmes will be launched in the upcoming fiscal year, and the risk of unravelling achievements made through years of investment is too high. This was the warning to officials at the Ministry of Finance by officials from various agencies under the Department of Health Services.

A few days ago, officials from various divisions under the department met finance ministry officials to draw attention to the shrinking budget ceiling and mounting liabilities. They urged the ministry to consider the consequences of budget cuts on public health programmes, including maternal health, child health, immunisation, nutrition and others, which are among the country’s top priorities.

“But they asked us to discuss with the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Population instead and prioritise the budget accordingly within the ceiling set for the ministry,” said Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the Family Welfare Division. “We are not in a position to launch any new healthcare programmes and are worried about setbacks to the achievements made so far through years of investments.”

For the next fiscal year 2025-26, the Ministry of Finance has set an expenditure ceiling of Rs83 billion for the Ministry of Health and Population. This amount is Rs3 billion less than the allocation for the current fiscal year.

The government presents the annual budget in Parliament on Jestha 15 every year according to Nepali calendar. It will be May 29 this year.

The Health Ministry has accordingly slashed the budgets of concerned departments. Lal told the Post that the budget ceiling for the division for the next fiscal year has been reduced by Rs520 million compared to the current fiscal year, which will affect most programmes.

Likewise, officials at the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control said that their budget ceiling has been reduced by Rs55 million, which is too low to continue even basic services, including antiretroviral treatment and HIV testing programmes. Other divisions and sections also raised concerns over the budget cut and warned of disruption in programmes that Nepal has committed to at the international level.

According to them, the government’s budget cut could affect major priority health programmes, including those related to maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, HIV, tuberculosis, epidemic control, non-communicable diseases, including mental health, among others.

“We will not introduce any new programmes in the upcoming fiscal year,” said Dr Tanka Prasad Barakoti, director general at the Department of Health Services. “We have urged officials to understand the consequences of budget cuts on the crucial public health programmes. We hope our concern will be addressed in the new budget.”

A new recent report by the World Health Organisation shows that Nepal has reduced maternal deaths by over 70 percent since 2000. The UN health body, in its report stated that currently 142 Nepali women currently die from maternity-related complications per 100,0000 live births.

A previous study carried out by the National Statistics Office in 2021 had shown 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Similarly, neonatal mortality now stands at 16.6 per 1,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate has decreased to 13.5 per 1,000 births, according to the UN health body.

The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population, showed that 21 neonates die per 1,000 live births.

“To close this gap and to ensure Nepal continues to stay on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target on MMR, we must prioritise women’s and newborns’ health and well-being and invest accordingly,” Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO representative to Nepal, stated in the report.

The WHO has emphasised that urgent investment is needed to prevent maternal deaths.

Public health experts warn of setbacks in the achievements made over the years in Nepal’s public health sector due to budget cuts by the government and the suspension of multiple public health programmes by USAID, the principal donor of healthcare programs.

Several ongoing healthcare programmes have already been affected after the US government suspended nearly all foreign assistance worldwide for three months in the last week of January, soon after Donald Trump assumed presidency. Kathmandu Post

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), Gujarat has reached a significant milestone by registering over 4.77 crore citizens, or 70% of its population, under the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA). The state government proudly announced this achievement on the occasion of Ayushman Bharat Day.

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) serves as a digital health identity designed to integrate and securely store citizens’ health records. With this system, citizens are provided with a digital health ID, ensuring their health records are safely stored online. It guarantees data security and privacy, with information shared only with the citizen’s consent.

Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), more than 2.26 crore health records have been successfully linked digitally. In addition, over 17,800 health facilities have been registered, significantly enhancing the accessibility and quality of healthcare services. Furthermore, more than 42,000 healthcare professionals have completed their registration, ensuring their seamless integration into the digital health ecosystem.

Among the 100 ABDM microsite projects implemented across the country, Gujarat’s Bhavnagar microsite has delivered the best performance. The Bhavnagar microsite successfully completed all its milestones even before the 9-month deadline set by the Government of India. Furthermore, Bhavnagar became the first microsite in the country to digitally link over 2 lakh health records. Additionally, other key microsites in Gujarat, such as Ahmedabad and Surat, have also recently completed all their milestones, and the Rajkot microsite is very close to achieving its goals.

It is worth noting that the ABDM microsite pilot project, launched under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) on September 27, 2021, aimed to connect private health professionals and institutions to digital services. Initially started in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Mumbai, the encouraging results from this initiative have led to the successful implementation of 100 ABDM microsites across the country.

Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the ‘Scan & Share’ feature has significantly improved access to and the efficiency of healthcare services. Available in 19 medical college–affiliated hospitals in the state, this feature allows registered patients to simply scan a QR code to instantly receive their OPD token number.

At the same time, with the patient’s consent, doctors gain immediate access to all digital health information linked to their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA). The QR-based “Scan & Share” service not only enhances the patient experience but also makes healthcare delivery more efficient and effective. The Blunt Times

Laboratory operator Labcorp (LH.N), opens new tab beat analysts’ estimate for first-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by robust demand for its diagnostic tests.

Healthy demand for non-urgent surgeries, especially among older Americans, over the last few quarters has buoyed the demand for diagnostic checkups.

Revenue from its diagnostic laboratories business grew 6% to $2.63 billion during the period, even though it was negatively impacted by adverse weather.

Labcorp and peer Quest Diagnostics (DGX.N), opens new tab have also benefited from deals to manage hospital labs as they seek market share gains.

The North Carolina-based company’s revenue rose 5.3% to $3.35 billion, but missed analysts’ average estimate of $3.40 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Excluding one-off items, it earned $3.84 per share during the quarter ended March 31, compared with the estimate of $3.74 per share.

“While the macroeconomic environment remains dynamic, the critical nature of the work we do in diagnostics and drug development positions us well for success in 2025 and beyond,” CEO Adam Schechter said.

“We continue to progress our pipeline of attractive acquisitions and partnerships and further expand our test menu in four strategic areas, including oncology, women’s health, autoimmune disease and neurology.”

Labcorp raised the lower end of its 2025 adjusted profit forecast to $15.70 from $15.60 per share previously, keeping the upper end unchanged at $16.40 per share. Reuters

Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, is calling for a reciprocal “zero-for-zero” tariff model among U.S. trading partners for medical technologies, emphasizing that tariff-free trade is critical to maintaining the industry’s competitiveness and ensuring patient access to lifesaving products.

In an interview with Joe Mullings of the Mullings Group, Whitaker said, “If we can get to a [reciprocal] zero-for-zero model, [based on a] humanitarian exemption, that’s the best place for everyone to land.”

Whitaker acknowledged broader concerns over trade imbalances but stressed that patient needs must come first. “I know there’s a bigger issue at play here on trade imbalances, but on behalf of patients … I think that’s the place where we need to land,” he said.

He also noted ongoing discussions with Chinese officials regarding exemptions for medical technology products. “It looks like China is going to have their own set of exemptions from tariffs. It feels like an element of that is going to be in medtech, and we’ve argued really aggressively with Chinese officials that they need to exempt medtech products on behalf of patients as well,” Whitaker said. “So, we’re starting to see some movement there.”

Turning to Europe, Whitaker said AdvaMed has been making a similar case. “We’ve been making the argument, in every country, but particularly in Europe … why don’t we just all move to a [reciprocal] zero-for-zero tariff model?” he said. “Zero tariffs from Europe on us, though they’re already really low—zero tariffs from the U.S. to Europe …. We feel very confident … just let us compete fairly, evenly, no tariffs—let us serve patients as best we can, let’s impact peoples’ lives, and the best companies are going to win. That’s the way the system should work.”

AdvaMed has consistently argued that medical technologies should be exempt from tariffs, noting that the U.S. is the global leader in medtech innovation and manufacturing. The association warns that any disruption in the supply of medical technologies could undermine patient care in hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices around the world.

How tariffs could disrupt the medical device industry
Tariffs on medical technologies could have wide-ranging consequences for patients, providers, and the broader health care system. The medical device industry relies heavily on complex, global supply chains to source the specialized materials and components needed to manufacture everything from surgical instruments to diagnostic imaging machines. Many devices include parts from multiple countries, making even modest tariffs disruptive to production and delivery timelines.

When tariffs increase the cost of importing components or finished goods, manufacturers often face a difficult choice: absorb the costs, raise prices, or scale back production. Any of these options could limit the availability of critical medical technologies, delay innovation, and increase costs for hospitals, clinics, and ultimately, patients. In a sector where timely access to devices can be a matter of life and death, even small disruptions can have serious consequences.

AdvaMed and other industry advocates argue that tariffs on medtech not only hurt U.S. patients and providers, but also undermine the country’s global leadership in medical innovation. The United States is home to many of the world’s largest and most innovative device companies. Tariffs could erode their competitiveness by increasing manufacturing costs, discouraging investment, and creating incentives to shift production offshore to countries with more favorable trade environments.

Previous research has shown that tariffs in the healthcare sector can have unintended downstream effects, including shortages of certain devices and higher overall healthcare costs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trade barriers on medical supplies demonstrated how vulnerable healthcare systems can become when the free flow of goods is interrupted. Medical Economics