The hottest Health Systems Substack posts right now

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We dodged a vaccine disaster (for now). And a quick virus weather report before the break.

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1894 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. A last-minute plan to adopt Denmark's childhood vaccine schedule in the U.S. was proposed and then canceled, but the option remains legally possible and could reappear.
  2. Denmark’s leaner schedule only works because of universal healthcare, long parental leave, near-universal prenatal screening, centralized records, and reliable follow-up, and those supports are missing in the U.S., so copying the schedule here could increase disease risk and disrupt vaccine access.
  3. Respiratory viruses are rising now—flu is driving much of the increase, Covid is slowly climbing, and RSV is up but milder—so stay home if sick, consider masking in crowded indoor spaces, and get a flu or Covid vaccine if you haven’t yet.

The UK Covid Inquiry First Report on Resilience and Preparedness

Independent SAGE continues • 479 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. The UK Covid Inquiry found serious issues from the Covid-19 pandemic that show we aren't ready for the next outbreak. This means improvements are really needed.
  2. The report suggests 10 key changes to build a better response system for future pandemics. It's important these changes are made in a complete way, not just in bits and pieces.
  3. There is a looming threat of new diseases, like avian flu, crossing into humans. We need to prepare now because we don't know when the next pandemic will hit.

Factory Settings

Anima Mundi • 164 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Health Systems
  1. Our attention is being systemically captured by surface-level distractions and entertainment. This extraction of time and focus prevents people from noticing and addressing deeper systemic harms.
  2. Key institutions like healthcare, governance, and the economy are often structured around incentives that serve profit, process, or power rather than genuine human flourishing, and colonial extraction still shapes who controls land and resources.
  3. Decolonization means reclaiming internal sovereignty by questioning inherited beliefs and deliberately choosing the values and systems you live by, not trying to return to an imagined pure origin.

Quick update on Covid in England. Plus manifestos!

Independent SAGE continues • 479 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. There was a rise in Covid cases in May due to a new variant and reduced immunity, but it was smaller than previous waves. People received booster shots which helped protect the vulnerable.
  2. A new wave of Covid is expected this June, which may be larger than May's but hopefully not as big as last winter's. Countries like Portugal and California show signs of increased cases.
  3. The manifestos from political parties in the UK focused on future pandemic preparedness. The Greens and Liberal Democrats have plans for cleaner air, while Labour and Conservatives are less specific about Covid strategies.

The failures of 2020: why didn’t the UK ‘Act Fast and Isolate’?

Independent SAGE continues • 979 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. The UK did not act quickly enough during the early stages of the pandemic, leading to a high number of avoidable deaths. Other countries, especially in East Asia, took swift actions that resulted in much lower death rates.
  2. Public health measures, like efficient testing and isolation support, were not properly implemented in the UK. This failure caused prolonged lockdowns and significant economic damage.
  3. Learning from the successes of East Asian countries is crucial for future pandemic responses. The UK needs to adapt its public health strategies to be more proactive and supportive.
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Power also comes from the bottom up

Your Local Epidemiologist • 3352 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Systems
  1. Federal grants are really important because they support many services that people rely on, like food programs and shelters. Changes to these grants can have a big impact on communities and people's lives.
  2. There are efforts to fight back against the recent funding freeze, with many groups coming together to challenge it. This shows that people can still have power and make a difference even in tough situations.
  3. Staying connected with local communities and sharing stories can help highlight the issues at hand. Small actions like reaching out to representatives or joining efforts can spark positive change.

What would making America healthy really mean?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1742 implied HN points • 30 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. America's health system is facing serious problems, with cuts to important services like Medicaid and a lack of support for scientists. This is making it harder for people to get the care they need.
  2. We need to imagine a better future where everyone has access to clean air, healthy food, and support systems that actually work for families. This means integrating health services and making them easy to access.
  3. It's important for leaders to listen to people and build a health system that is fair, data-driven, and responsive. We must prioritize long-term health over short-term fixes.

Why Biology and Cancer?

Solve Cancer in 365 days • 39 implied HN points • 27 Aug 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Health Systems
  1. Aging and illness like cancer are tough realities that many people face in life. There's a strong desire to find better solutions to these problems.
  2. It's important to seek meaning and purpose in life beyond just money and status. Finding something impactful can reignite passion and motivation.
  3. Learning about biology and unconventional approaches to it can open new pathways to understanding health issues. This exploration could lead to breakthroughs in how we view and treat diseases like cancer.

What the DSM-5 Gets Wrong About Mental Illness

Mind & Mythos • 299 implied HN points • 20 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. The DSM-5 categorizes mental illnesses, but it fails to recognize that human traits exist on a spectrum. This means someone might feel varying levels of anxiety on different days, rather than simply being anxious or not.
  2. People often show symptoms of multiple disorders at once, making current diagnostic categories too rigid. For example, two people diagnosed with the same mental illness might have very different experiences and symptoms.
  3. Instead of labeling normal behaviors as disorders, we should focus on a person's distress and functioning. A new model called HiTOP offers a better way to understand mental health by looking at underlying dimensions rather than strict categories.

Addendum to What the DSM-5 Gets Wrong About Mental Illness

Mind & Mythos • 159 implied HN points • 23 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. The HiTOP model offers a different way to look at mental health by using sliding scales instead of strict categories for diagnoses. This helps avoid labeling people in a way that might cause stigma.
  2. Unlike the DSM-5, which uses clear diagnoses, the HiTOP focuses on understanding a person’s unique traits and where they fall on various scales. This allows for a more personalized approach to mental health treatment.
  3. There is a connection between the HiTOP model and the Big Five personality traits, suggesting that mental health issues can overlap with broader personality traits rather than being completely separate categories. This creates opportunities to better understand and treat mental health challenges.

The rot in medicine and public health is growing worse and worse

Unreported Truths • 64 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. Many people don't realize that, for most, Covid causes no long-term heart issues. It's important to spread good news instead of only focusing on fear.
  2. Despite spending a lot on healthcare, life expectancy in the U.S. hasn't improved in the last 20 years. We need to rethink how effective our health strategies really are.
  3. Public health experts often exaggerate the problems they can solve, leading to distrust among people. Honesty about what can be achieved is crucial for rebuilding that trust.

#21: The consequences of inaction

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 25 Mar 20
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. Taking extreme measures early to control a virus might seem unreasonable, but it can save lives and prevent bigger problems later on.
  2. Not acting quickly can lead to more deaths, a sicker workforce, and many businesses shutting down, which hurts the economy as a whole.
  3. We need to shift our thinking from trying to minimize known costs to understanding that the costs of inaction can be much higher and more damaging.

What are the barriers to sensible public health data?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 14 Apr 21
🏥 Health Politics Health Systems
  1. Having comprehensive public health data is crucial for running an effective health system and monitoring trends.
  2. Political leaders need to prioritize and commit to improving public health data systems for better outcomes.
  3. Implementing a balanced growth strategy instead of a 'big bang' approach can lead to more sustainable progress in developing national public health data systems.