The hottest Health Politics Substack posts right now

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Top Health Politics Topics

Optimism of the will

Comment is Freed • 66 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy Government Public Health Health economics
  1. The new NHS plan is ambitious but lacks clear steps on how to achieve its goals. It has many ideas but doesn't explain how to address current problems or fund the changes.
  2. There is a trend in the plan to shift healthcare services into local centers, but this has been tried before without success. The history of similar proposals is not properly considered.
  3. While it's good to be optimistic about making changes, ignoring the real challenges and barriers can lead to problems. It's important to balance hope with a realistic understanding of obstacles.

An open letter to readers: back to what Unreported Truths does best

Unreported Truths • 57 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Medicine Public Health Policy Ethics Economics
  1. Focus on topics you know best, like medicine, to give readers valuable insights. It's important to stick to what you do well.
  2. Listening to reader feedback can help improve your content and ensure it stays relevant. Readers appreciate when their preferences are considered.
  3. Writing about less controversial topics may provide more value than engaging in heated debates. It's better to cover important issues than to get caught up in arguments.

The difference between the US childhood vaccination schedule and Denmark's

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 195 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Research Methods Child Health
  1. There are big differences between the childhood vaccination schedules in the US and Denmark. Studying these differences could help us understand which method works better for kids.
  2. A cluster randomized trial could test the effectiveness of the US vaccination schedule compared to Denmark's. This means grouping areas to follow one schedule or the other and then measuring health outcomes.
  3. There's a lot of uncertainty about which vaccination approach is best. By collecting better data, we can start to settle these important questions instead of just accepting existing beliefs.

A San Francisco professor is glad to get Covid and wrote about it

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 181 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccines Disease Management Policy Debate Healthcare Ethics
  1. The professor felt grateful to get Covid, believing it confirmed that avoiding the virus for so long didn't guarantee safety. She took many precautions, but still got infected, showing that complete avoidance is nearly impossible.
  2. The article suggests that the number of vaccine doses given now may not be effective, especially since the virus has changed. The biggest protection was seen with the first dose, and there isn't much evidence for needing many more.
  3. Masking practices by some families seem to be more about social pressure than actual effectiveness. There's little evidence that selectively wearing masks helps prevent respiratory viruses in casual settings.

Sabotaging RFK Jr's confirmation will increase vaccine hesitancy

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 197 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Policy Regulation
  1. Blocking RFK Jr.'s confirmation could make more people anxious about getting vaccines. This is bad for public health.
  2. Scott Gottlieb has made decisions that may hurt trust in the FDA. His past actions raise concerns about his true intentions.
  3. To reduce vaccine hesitancy, it's better to approve RFK Jr. so he can help produce more research and answer important questions.
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Yes, Wipe Down Surfaces. No, Don't Hoard Cleaning Products. Try HOCl.

OK Doomer • 141 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccines Infectious Diseases Health Policy Epidemiology
  1. It's important to wipe down surfaces to prevent the spread of germs, especially when illnesses like the flu are on the rise.
  2. Instead of hoarding cleaning products, try using hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as a simpler and effective germ killer.
  3. The flu season is currently very severe, even worse than COVID-19 in some cases, so taking precautions is essential for safety.

I Have been Appointed Co-Chair of the ACIP Committee

Who is Robert Malone • 71 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination CDC Policy Administration
  1. The author has been appointed co-chair of the ACIP committee, which is related to immunization practices. This role was unexpected for them.
  2. They expressed a commitment to being objective, honest, and transparent in this new position.
  3. The author appreciates the support they've received from their subscribers over the years and values their connection with them.

NIH reduced indirects from 60+% to 15%: 10 things you should know

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 148 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Research Funding Higher education Academic Integrity
  1. The NIH has lowered the amount of money it gives to universities from over 60% to 15%. This means more money can go to actual researchers instead of administrative costs.
  2. This change will make universities operate differently, encouraging them to reduce unnecessary costs and possibly hold faculty more accountable for their behavior.
  3. Lowering these indirect costs could lead to more funding for research projects. Researchers might actually benefit from this change, as it could increase the number of grants available.

"Confessions of a Former Carrier Executive": my keynote address at the 2023 YOU Powered Symposium

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 279 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Health Insurance Policy Making Public Health Healthcare Costs Corporate ethics
  1. Big health insurance companies mainly focus on making their shareholders richer, often at the expense of patients.
  2. The speaker shared personal experiences from a career in the industry, highlighting the luxury lifestyle financed by policyholders and taxpayers.
  3. Despite record profits for insurance companies, many American families remain uninsured or underinsured.

Why your eye surgeon wants you to get a multifocal lens that Medicare won't cover for your cataracts

Unreported Truths • 62 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Costs Medical Ethics Patient rights Insurance Coverage
  1. Doctors often recommend expensive multifocal lenses for cataract surgery because they make a lot more money from them compared to standard lenses covered by Medicare. Usually, patients pay thousands of dollars for these lenses, which some might not really need.
  2. The production cost of these multifocal lenses is pretty low, but doctors charge patients significantly more, leading to huge profits. This can create an incentive for doctors to push these lenses, even if they might not offer a huge benefit.
  3. Most patients trust their doctors to give them the best advice, but many doctors might not fully understand the technology or pricing behind the lenses they recommend. This gap can lead to unnecessary expenses for patients.

Narcissism And Nihilism Behind Progressive Affirmation Of Psychiatric Disorders

Public • 506 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🏥 Health Politics Mental health Suicide Prevention
  1. Progressives, Democrats, and Liberals advocate for compassion towards mental illness.
  2. Progressive policies are linked to increased deaths from suicide, drug overdose, and regret due to irreversible treatments.
  3. Progressive mistreatment of psychiatric disorders is more common in the Western world compared to conservative approaches.

Pausing NIH study sections is going to be fine

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 157 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Medical Research Policy Reform Government oversight
  1. Pausing NIH study sections can help bring necessary changes. It's a good opportunity to rethink how research funding is distributed.
  2. Current funding processes tend to support more conventional ideas rather than groundbreaking ones. There needs to be a push for more innovative and transformative research.
  3. If cuts happen in research funding, especially for less impactful areas, it could lead to better use of public dollars. We need to focus on research that truly makes a difference.

Exposed: The Hoax That Targeted Health Freedom

Who is Robert Malone • 18 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Food Safety Environmental health Health Freedom Activism
  1. Two men tricked health freedom event attendees by pretending to be activists against fake meat and presenting a fake study that linked it to autism. They wanted to capture misleading interviews for a documentary.
  2. This deception was carefully planned, showing that some groups are using sneaky tactics to undermine health movements and discredit their leaders. It's important for people to stay aware and think critically.
  3. The incident highlights a larger issue where powerful organizations may fund misinformation campaigns to attack those who challenge their narratives. It's a reminder to be cautious about who you trust and what claims you accept.

Open Letter to Insurance Companies re: BMI-Based Incentives/Penalties

Weight and Healthcare • 339 implied HN points • 27 Jul 22
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Healthcare Incentives Discrimination
  1. Charging more for health insurance based on metrics like BMI can create financial inequalities and harm marginalized groups.
  2. BMI is not an accurate measure of health as people with the same BMI can have different health statuses.
  3. BMI-based incentives/penalties can potentially decrease health, disproportionately affecting People of Color and those with lower socioeconomic status.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Feb 24

Force of Infection • 136 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Disease Control Public Health Epidemiology Health Policy Food Safety
  1. Influenza cases have dropped recently, giving some relief, although numbers are still higher than usual. Improvements were seen across all age groups.
  2. COVID-19 activity varies by state, with some places seeing high case numbers while others have less. Overall hospitalizations are low now compared to past months.
  3. Norovirus remains very high across the country, and it's expected to stay elevated for a while. This season's peak may last longer than usual.

Artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines are not going to cure cancer

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 156 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Medical Research Public Health Vaccines Technology
  1. Artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines are not expected to cure cancer. Both technologies have limitations that make them less effective in treating this complex disease.
  2. Cancer therapeutic vaccines have been studied extensively, but only one has received FDA approval, and it shows only a slight benefit in survival. Overall, these vaccines often do not work as hoped.
  3. AI struggles to diagnose cancer accurately and often lacks the needed data to improve this. Simply detecting cancer is not enough; finding the right treatment for each specific case is much more complicated.

Ending the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

crimeandpunishment • 117 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Healthcare access Poverty
  1. The Biden Administration is transitioning out of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency by letting declarations expire together in May 2023.
  2. The end of the emergency declarations may lead to higher costs for COVID tests and cuts to programs like SNAP benefits.
  3. Some leaders advocate for an immediate end to the emergency declarations, while others support a phased approach for a safer transition.

UnitedHealth, CVS/Aetna, Cigna pulled in close to a trillion dollars last year, mostly as drug middlemen

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 279 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals Insurance Healthcare Costs Market Dynamics Public Policy
  1. Three major companies, UnitedHealth, CVS/Aetna, and Cigna, are now making most of their money from being middlemen in the prescription drug market rather than from selling health insurance. This means they control a big part of how much patients pay for their medications.
  2. In 2022, these companies earned over $492 billion from their pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services, showing that this part of their business is growing much faster than their health insurance offerings.
  3. These companies are expanding into primary care services, like buying healthcare centers, as they face slower growth in their health insurance segments. This shift suggests they are looking for new ways to make profits amid tougher competition.

Problems of the Modern World

David Friedman’s Substack • 188 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Environmental health Mental health Social Issues
  1. There are many problems in the modern world, like rising autism rates, obesity, and lifestyle changes, but their causes are not always clear.
  2. Different factors, such as environmental changes, political decisions, and lifestyle habits, might be contributing to these issues.
  3. Identifying the true causes of these problems is complex and might require more research to understand what’s really happening.

Modesty is a Risk Factor for HIV.

Eat Shit and Prosper • 199 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Epidemiology Preventive Medicine
  1. HIV made the jump to humans multiple times, mainly through eating infected primates. Understanding this helps us see how complex diseases spread.
  2. Certain natural substances, like a sugar-binding protein in bananas, might help reduce HIV's infectivity. It shows how nature can provide unexpected solutions.
  3. Being overly cautious or clean can backfire when it comes to health. Embracing natural behaviors might actually be better for preventing diseases like HIV.

Francis Collins retires from the NIH

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 128 implied HN points • 03 Mar 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Biotechnology Policy Analysis Epidemiology Research Ethics
  1. Francis Collins helped find the cystic fibrosis gene, which saved many lives. However, his support for gain of function research and certain policies during the pandemic raised concerns.
  2. Many believe that the impact of Collins' leadership during the pandemic was negative, leading to loss of trust in science and vaccination. His actions may have contributed to millions of deaths and economic losses.
  3. Collins did not explore if the way the NIH gives out grant money was effective. Despite advancements in genetics, many common health issues remain largely unresolved.

A simple suggestion for RFK Jr to end corruption in medicine

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 189 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Pharmaceuticals Public Health Government Policy Healthcare Reform
  1. RFK Jr. wants to fight corruption in medicine, especially the money doctors take from pharmaceutical companies. It's important to have honest practices to benefit patients.
  2. A proposed change is to limit the number of doctors in advisory groups who have received money from drug companies. This could start at no more than 60% in 2025 and end with 0% by 2028.
  3. By having fewer conflicts of interest, doctors might focus more on what's best for patients rather than just following drug company interests. This could lead to better healthcare decisions.

One Of CDC's Chief COVID Vaccine Messages Was Based On Misleading Information

Unmasked • 65 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccines Policy Reform Crisis Management
  1. The CDC's messaging during the COVID pandemic was often based on misleading information. This has raised concerns about their credibility and calls for reform.
  2. Issues have been noted regarding the studies the CDC used to support mask recommendations, with some results being misrepresented or not scientifically significant.
  3. The CDC's justifications for recommending COVID vaccines were also questioned, suggesting that their decisions weren't always based on accurate data.

Glyphosate - Drying Agent and Herbicide for Soy and Wheat and its Potential Health Impacts

Molecular Spectacular • 168 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Toxicology Environmental health Public Health Agriculture Food Safety
  1. Glyphosate, a common herbicide, has been linked to health risks like increased cancer risk and endocrine disruption. Many studies suggest a troubling connection between glyphosate levels in humans and serious health issues.
  2. Soy protein consumption is strongly connected to higher levels of glyphosate's byproduct, AMPA, in urine. This indicates that what we eat can affect how much of these chemicals we accumulate in our bodies.
  3. There are hints that glyphosate might disrupt gut health, which could impact digestion of gluten. This might be related to rising gluten allergies, especially in sensitive populations like infants.

The crisis of trust in medicine: a personal story

Unreported Truths • 62 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Patient Care
  1. It's important to question medical advice, especially when big surgeries are suggested without clear symptoms. Some doctors may recommend expensive procedures even when they're not strictly necessary.
  2. Patients should always feel empowered to seek second opinions and make informed decisions about their healthcare. Asking about the consequences of not having a procedure can provide clarity.
  3. Trusting doctors is crucial, but it's also important to recognize that financial incentives in healthcare can sometimes lead to recommendations that aren't in the patient's best interest.

The Long Road to End Tuberculosis

Asimov Press • 193 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Disease Control Vaccination Antibiotics Public Health Research Funding
  1. Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major global health threat, killing around 1.2 million people each year despite vaccines and antibiotics that help in treatment. There is a pressing need for new medicines and vaccines to reduce TB cases and deaths significantly.
  2. The current BCG vaccine against TB has varied effectiveness, especially in adults, and has not been updated for decades. Newer vaccine candidates like M72/AS01E are being developed to provide better protection, particularly for adults.
  3. Antibiotic resistance in TB is a growing concern, making it harder to treat. New strategies to discover antibiotics and improve existing treatments are crucial for combating resistant strains of TB and ensuring effective patient care.

Florida Grand Jury Finds Average Citizens Aren’t Buying “Follow the Science” Propaganda on Masks and Social Distancing

The DisInformation Chronicle • 390 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Masks Social Distancing Public Health Government Response
  1. Florida Grand Jury discovered that average citizens are skeptical of the 'follow the science' messaging regarding masks and social distancing.
  2. The CDC's data on masks from their journal MMWR was criticized for lacking quality science.
  3. Federal officials have hesitated to conduct a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) on masks, possibly due to concerns that the results might not support the effectiveness of masks in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses.

Reproductive Biology for Politicians and Voters, Part 1

De Novo • 176 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Reproductive Rights Legislation IVF
  1. Many human embryos do not survive to become babies. More than half of them die naturally, especially depending on the age of the mother's egg.
  2. Embryos can split and create identical twins before a certain stage in development. This means that a single embryo isn't guaranteed to become one unique human.
  3. Understanding stages of pregnancy is important for discussions about IVF and abortion. For example, many abortions happen early, often before many realize they are pregnant.

URGENT: We need an independent and transparent investigation of mRNA Covid jab risks - from the ground up

Unreported Truths • 45 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Mental health Policy Debate
  1. There is a need for an independent investigation into the safety of mRNA Covid vaccines due to rising public concern and distrust. Many people are worried about potential health risks linked to these vaccines.
  2. A recent violent incident involving a person believing the Covid jab harmed him highlights the deep fears surrounding vaccine safety. This reflects a broader crisis in public trust in health authorities.
  3. Public health officials need to address concerns about vaccine injuries realistically, rather than ignoring the issues. Honest communication is crucial to rebuild trust and understanding.

My email to Brown Professor Craig Spencer, M.D., MPH on his StatNews article

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Science communication Medical Ethics Research Integrity Health Policy Misinformation
  1. An open invitation asks a public health expert to have a civil, data-focused conversation about vaccine safety, aiming to stick to data and methods rather than rhetoric.
  2. The view that the medical community is simply 'correct and must earn trust' is challenged, with a key concern being that many credentialed experts refuse public, method-focused debates.
  3. Repeated attempts to engage prominent figures (including offers to Dr. Paul Offit and an instance where Peter Hotez reportedly declined to meet RFK) are seen as evidence that refusal to dialogue is the main barrier to finding the truth, and dialogue is promoted as the solution.

Happy Thanksgiving! (And I hope you will take advantage of this holiday discount and support UT!)

Unreported Truths • 14 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health News Clinical Trials Media
  1. Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate what we have, like health and the freedoms we enjoy. It's nice to celebrate these moments with family and friends.
  2. There’s concern about how some companies, like Pfizer, handle important health information. It seems some critical results from their studies are not getting the attention they deserve.
  3. Supporting independent voices can help spread information that might not be covered by mainstream media. Engaging with different perspectives helps keep conversations interesting, even during family gatherings.

Medicine is becoming more corrupt

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 184 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Corruption Pharma University Research Ethics Healthcare access
  1. Medicine is being influenced by money from pharmaceutical companies, which can lead to biased practices. This means that decisions in healthcare might prioritize profit over patient care.
  2. Big donations to universities can result in naming rights and influence, creating a potential conflict of interest. This raises questions about the integrity and independence of academic institutions.
  3. There's a concern that this trend towards corruption could compromise the quality of medical research and education. Without accountability, the focus might shift away from ethical standards and patient welfare.

What's Going on with Bird Flu This Winter?

OK Doomer • 17 implied HN points • 10 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Epidemiology Disease Control Policy Analysis
  1. Bird flu, especially the H5N1 strain, has been spreading and mutating for about four years, causing concern among experts.
  2. New studies show that bird flu can spread among farmworkers and may even be present in the air, which is a shift from earlier beliefs that it wasn’t airborne.
  3. There are reports of misinformation and pressure in the farming industry about the virus, with more mainstream media acknowledging the seriousness of the situation as we approach a risky respiratory season.

The true story of the Samoa measles outbreak

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 152 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Health Policy Global Health Medical Ethics
  1. Measles was introduced to Samoa in the 1880s and a significant outbreak occurred due to a combination of poor health systems and low vaccination rates. The outbreak was worsened by significant events, including the deaths of two children after a vaccination mistake.
  2. After the vaccine-related deaths, the Samoan government paused the vaccination program, leading to a sharp decline in vaccination rates. Many people turned to traditional medicine instead of seeking proper medical care when measles spread.
  3. The story of the Samoa measles outbreak highlights that the responsibility for the crisis is complex, involving multiple factors like poor health literacy and governance. Blaming any single person for the outbreak, like RFK Jr., oversimplifies the true situation.

How Desperate Are The Media And 'Experts' To Get People Back In Masks? COVID Panic Is Back

Unmasked • 62 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Pandemic Policy Mask Mandates Media influence
  1. Even after years of COVID, some experts and media are still pushing for people to wear masks again. They seem really eager to bring back the fear and panic.
  2. Most people now believe that masks don't work and are glad that the mandates are over. They see it as a past issue that shouldn't come back.
  3. There are still some who are trying to force kids to wear masks, even with questionable science backing their arguments. It's surprising that this continues.

URGENT/Update: Good news... and bad

Unreported Truths • 44 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Pharmaceuticals Vaccine Policy Misinformation Gun Violence
  1. Dr. Vinay Prasad has been reinstated at the FDA, which is good news for those who believe in the importance of proving drug effectiveness. His return shows a pushback against pharmaceutical companies.
  2. A tragic shooting at the CDC has led to increased attacks on those who question mRNA vaccines. Some media are linking the violence to vaccine skepticism, which raises concerns about freedom of speech.
  3. It's crucial to investigate potential risks of mRNA vaccines openly, rather than silencing criticism. Honest discussions about risks should happen without fear of being blamed for others' violent actions.

The NIH must make these 8 reforms right now

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 123 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Scientific Integrity Research Ethics Public Trust
  1. The NIH should reduce indirect costs because a lot of the money is not spent effectively. Instead of letting universities keep so much, more money could go directly to help research.
  2. We need to be careful with which studies get funding. Some research doesn't tell us anything useful, and it's a waste of taxpayer money.
  3. It's important to make sure that scientific research can be repeated and verified. If a lab can't replicate results, they should lose funding.

What does RFK Jr mean for healthcare?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 176 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy Public Health Pharmaceuticals Vaccine Mandates Regulatory issues
  1. RFK Jr. could be pushed out of the healthcare conversation because he is anti-corporation. Many pharmaceutical companies might not want him involved due to his stance.
  2. He wants to change how vaccine makers are protected from lawsuits, suggesting they should face accountability like other drug companies. This could lead to better safety practices in vaccines.
  3. The current healthcare system is seen as corrupt and ineffective. There's a need for deeper reforms and better studies to ensure drug and vaccine safety.

On Big Pharma's demolition of Dr. Vinay Prasad, one of the most honest people in medicine

Unreported Truths • 47 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics FDA Regulation Public Health Medical Ethics Biotechnology
  1. Dr. Vinay Prasad was a strong advocate for the safety and efficacy of new drugs. He tried to set high standards at the FDA but was pushed out quickly because he challenged Big Pharma interests.
  2. Pharmaceutical companies often get approvals for drugs that have not proven to be effective for patients. This can put patients at risk, especially when treatments are very expensive and potentially harmful.
  3. The FDA needs to maintain strict standards to protect patients from unsafe drugs. If companies can't prove their drugs work, they shouldn't profit from them until there's real evidence of benefit.