Policy & Costs (Nepal): Nepal has introduced a 3% “Health Equity Fee” on private healthcare bills, adding to treatment costs in private hospitals, nursing homes, labs and medical colleges, with penalties for non-payment. Policy & Costs (Nepal): The same fiscal package also raises taxes on private healthcare and other essentials like education and electricity, with analysts warning middle-class households will feel the hit. Access & Workforce (Malaysia): Malaysia’s MOH says its Rakan KKM initiative will pilot at Cyberjaya Hospital first (orthopaedics and internal medicine), aiming to generate extra revenue and help retain specialists via incentives. Access & Equity (Nepal): Bagmati Province is pushing specialized care expansion, including more dialysis machines and cancer treatment support agreements with hospitals. Public Health (WHO): WHO updates dementia prevention guidance, saying up to 45% of cases could be delayed by tackling risks like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, inactivity and long-term air pollution. Clinical Innovation: A pancreatic cancer vaccine trial reports early positive results, with no cases of pancreatic cancer observed among high-risk participants who received the vaccine. Tech & Care Delivery: GE HealthCare finalized a ~$500M, 10-year radiology partnership with Catholic Health in Long Island to modernize imaging with AI and cloud workflows. AI Governance: A new wave of state AI rules is pushing human oversight for coverage and clinical decisions, but many organizations lack the governance to comply. Health & Safety (Spain): Spain reports summer-driven pressure on primary care and emergency departments, alongside rising aggression in primary care settings. Care in Emergencies (Nepal): Panasonic and UNFPA provided solar lanterns to maternal and newborn health facilities in climate-vulnerable Nepal to keep care running during power outages.