Hong Kong will allow terminally ill patients to upload advance directives for life-sustaining treatments to the eHealth platform starting July 31, formalizing end-of-life care and offering clearer legal protection for patients and healthcare professionals under a new ordinance.
The FDA will discuss reclassifying peptides on July 23-24, potentially allowing pharmacies to compound custom mixes, reversing a 2023 ban. The move is highly anticipated by telehealth companies and pharmacies, despite scientific recommendations against it and existing gray markets.
A family highlights the suffering caused by Australia's federal law banning doctors from discussing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) via telehealth, forcing patients like Jason Smith to travel extensively, while the Catholic Church opposes VAD and runs hospitals that deny such services.
Companies are increasingly using "turnkey" telehealth services to quickly launch virtual clinics, even without prior medical experience. These services handle operations, from staffing to compliance, allowing businesses in various sectors to enter the lucrative health market, raising questions about quality and regulation.
Despite a federal appeals court ruling temporarily banning mail delivery of mifepristone, abortion providers are finding ways to ensure access to abortion pills, including shipping misoprostol alone or sourcing from abroad. The "genie is out of the bottle" for telehealth abortions, with many believing access cannot be reversed.
Telehealth companies hired by employers to manage obesity drug costs are increasingly criticized for prioritizing cost-cutting over patient care. Patients report being forced to try less effective generic drugs or face denial of access to crucial medications like Zepbound and Wegovy, leading to frustration and weight regain.
Telehealth companies hired by employers to manage obesity drug costs are facing criticism for potentially limiting patient access to medications like Zepbound and Wegovy. Patients report being forced to try generic drugs first or facing hurdles that lead to out-of-pocket expenses, while doctors express concern over these companies offering medical advice outside their scope.
Online telehealth pharmacies are booming, selling GLP-1s and weight-loss drugs. However, many consumers report being charged for unsolicited medications, facing impossible cancellation policies, and experiencing unresponsive customer service, leading to significant financial losses and frustration.
Novo Nordisk has launched its weight loss pill Wegovy in the United Arab Emirates, marking its first expansion outside the U.S. market. The drug's approval by the Emirates Drug Establishment follows recent competition from Eli Lilly in the growing obesity drug sector.
The Supreme Court upheld access to the abortion pill mifepristone, Trump returned from a state visit to China with announced but unconfirmed purchases, and the UK faces political turmoil with challenges to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.
