Hospital upgrades & access: Philippines’ Butuan Medical Center could be upgraded to a Level III Butuan General Hospital after Senate committee deliberations on HB 8470. Medicaid policy & coverage risk: CMS narrows the “medical frailty” exemption for Medicaid work requirements, requiring impairment in at least one activity of daily living (ADL) to keep coverage starting in 2027. Patient-centered care tools: A new Center for Person-Centered Care launches free guides and self-assessments to help patients, providers, and payers make more practical, real-world care decisions. Medication supply problems: In Bishkek, patients say subsidized epilepsy drugs like Depakin 300 are hard to get after distribution shifted to the “El Aman” state pharmacy network. Public safety in hospitals: Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital resolved a knife threat quickly with police support; no injuries reported. Health equity & outcomes: At AIDS 2026 in Rio, speakers highlighted racism as a structural driver of HIV disparities. Care utilization gap: A study finds DXA screening among Medicare beneficiaries fell 35% from 2005–2023, with steeper drops for Hispanic, Black, and Asian patients. Funding & operations pressure: Ghana’s Weija Children’s Specialist Hospital has been handed over to government, but opening timelines remain unclear amid payment questions. Infectious disease alert: Louisiana reports higher-than-usual Vibrio vulnificus cases and deaths, urging wound protection and safe seafood practices.