Hong Kong's health minister, Lo Chung-mau, announced that 280,000 patients have received full medical fee waivers since January, a 20-fold increase following a public healthcare fee reform designed to ensure system sustainability amid an ageing population.
Xie Yang, spokesperson of the National Health Commission, said that recently some unscrupulous institutions have carried out illegal medical practice and training in the name of "Taoist medicine" and "Buddhist medicine". The National Health Commission reminds that those engaged in diagnostic and treatment activities must obtain qualifications in accordance with the law and conduct them in medical institutions. If the public discovers such illegal activities, they should report them promptly to prevent being deceived and causing damage to their health.
The National Health Commission made it clear at the press conference that children who have received the quadrivalent or nine-valent HPV vaccine at their own expense are deemed to have completed the national immunization program vaccination. Experts pointed out that the bivalent vaccine mainly targets HPV types 16 and 18. Parents can choose the free bivalent vaccine according to their children's health needs or receive other vaccines at their own expense.
Due to anxiety and health concerns, Generation Z young people around the world have begun to use prescription drugs such as pregabalin instead of alcohol to socialize. Experts warn that such illegal "superimposed drug use" not only carries the risk of addiction, but may also lead to serious physiological harm and psychological dependence, and that online drug shopping poses extremely high safety risks.
Surgeons in eastern China have successfully performed the world's first bilateral thigh replantation. The patient, who suffered an accident severing both legs, has regained sensation and the ability to walk with a frame after 20 months of recovery.
The Third People's Hospital of Liaoyang City reported that a pregnant woman accidentally took Xinbai's cell preservation solution due to the doctor's negligence during a prenatal check-up. The hospital has suspended the doctor involved. After testing, all indicators of the pregnant woman and fetus are now normal. The hospital is cooperating with the health department to conduct follow-up investigations.
Hong Kong was declared an infected area after four cholera cases and two deaths were confirmed. Authorities deployed mobile health and police teams to confiscate dangerous goods, and established two special committees.
A food poisoning incident occurred in a school in Nalanda County, Bihar, India. The chef mistakenly added washing powder to a nutritious lunch of soybean rice as salt. More than 40 students suffered from vomiting, abdominal pain and other symptoms and were sent to the hospital. The student's condition is currently stable, and the authorities have intervened to investigate the negligence of relevant personnel.
With the arrival of the peak season of pollen allergy in autumn, China News Network commented that cities' response to pollen allergy should not just stop at reminding residents to take precautions, but should treat it from the source, through scientific and systematic removal of allergenic plants, and truly integrate residents' health needs into the urban management system.
Customs data reveals international students accounted for over half of HIV infections among individuals entering China through Wuhan between 2018 and 2025, with 46 positive cases detected out of 39,816 tests.
The Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government held a series of press conferences with the theme of "Getting Started with the 15th Five-Year Plan" to introduce the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Women and Children in Shanghai", focusing on the overall development of women and children's families, reform and innovation, and digital intelligence empowerment. It is planned that by the end of 2026, the healthy deputy principal system will basically cover all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, and further strengthen children’s physical and mental health services.
National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch uses AI technology to analyze X-ray images and determines osteoporosis with an accuracy rate of 90%. The research has received international recognition, and the hospital plans to cooperate with the Yunlin County Health Bureau next year to launch trials at health centers in Tuku, Douliu, Baozhong and other places to carry out early screening and interventional treatment for elderly women.
Tennis star Serena Williams publicly uses GLP-1 weight loss drug to spark discussion. Experts explore whether such drugs have the potential to enhance sports performance and their impact on athlete health, sports fairness and role models for young people.
A Yale University research team found that the epilepsy drug "lacosamide" combined with a special hydrogel injected into the knee joint can effectively relieve pain and reduce cartilage degeneration. The therapy has performed well in experiments on animal models and human cartilage tissue. It is currently in the pre-clinical research stage and will conduct human clinical trials in the future to verify its efficacy.
Hong Yongxiang, director of Hong Yongxiang Clinic, pointed out that GLP-1 drugs, commonly known as "slimming shots", can not only reduce weight, but also protect the kidneys through mechanisms such as lowering blood pressure, excreting sodium, and anti-inflammation. Studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of renal function deterioration in patients with diabetes and kidney disease, but it must be evaluated by a physician and tracked regularly to avoid side effects.
A survey of 86 Hong Kong households in subdivided flats and rooftop huts found extreme apparent temperatures (up to 52.21°C), with 80% of homemakers reporting dizziness and headaches due to heat.
The Nantou Xinyi Township Farmers' Association commissioned Changhua Zaiyuan Oil Products to produce tea oil as an OEM. Because it was independently submitted for inspection and found to have excessive "benzopyrene", 392 bottles in stock have been removed from the shelves and sealed, and 579 bottles sold have been fully refunded and recycled.
German critical care medicine expert Uwe Janssens said that the Robert Koch Institute's estimate of about 12,500 heat-related deaths this summer is low and the actual number is much higher. He criticized the government for inaction and called for the introduction of a binding national heatstroke prevention and cooling plan.
The Health Commission of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region stated on the 18th that all county-level general hospitals in the region have reached basic service standards, and half have reached the level of third-level hospitals. Through talent training and counterpart support, Guangxi has completed the goal of building a medical team in the "14th Five-Year Plan" ahead of schedule, and its primary medical service capabilities have been significantly enhanced, effectively alleviating people's medical problems.
Gene-editing therapies for the nervous system require further studies before human trials, according to Stanford adjunct professor Karoly Nikolich, following recent patient deaths in experimental treatments.
The US Department of Health and Human Services decertified organ procurement organization Network for Hope after a review flagged neurological signs incompatible with death in dozens of pending cases.
With the popularity of social media and increased public awareness, the younger generation of women know more about menstruation, hormones and PCOS than the previous generation. However, experts point out that there is still a need to guard against misinformation and continue to promote better education and medical resources.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Midwest Poultry Services is voluntarily recalling approximately 19 million eggs that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, posing a risk of serious health risks or even death, especially for young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
