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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI: Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – PureTech Health PLC; Opening Position disclosure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)        Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd.
    (b)        Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 PureTech Health plc
    (d)        If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)        Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 07.04.2025
    (f)        In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)        Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: GBP 1p ordinary GB00BY2Z0H74
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)        Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 41,011,890 17.07    
    (2)        Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)        Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 41,011,890 17.07    
    Class of relevant security: ADR US7462371060
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)        Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 0 0.00    
    (2)        Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)        Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 0 0.00    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)        Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
           

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
             

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
     

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
     

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 08.04.2025
    Contact name: Philippa Holmes
    Telephone number*: +441491417447

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How dentists could help tackle obesity in children

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jessica Large, Doctoral Researcher, Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB), Loughborough University

    © World Obesity , CC BY-NC-SA

    As a specialty registrar in paediatric dentistry, I’ve seen first-hand the pain children experience because of poor oral health. Tooth decay happens when teeth are damaged by acids produced by oral bacteria breaking down sugar from foods and drinks – and although it’s largely preventable – it’s the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged between five and nine in England.

    Tooth decay in children is also linked to obesity. Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing other diseases throughout childhood and into adulthood, including diabetes, high blood pressure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

    My research, conducted with colleagues at Loughborough University, explores how acceptable and feasible it is for dental teams to offer weight checks and support, such as referral to weight loss programmes, to patients during routine appointments. In my job as a paediatric dentist, I discuss weight and health with families and offer referral to local healthy lifestyle services.

    The World Health Organization estimates that 43% of children have decay worldwide and 20% of children aged 5-19 years are overweight or living with obesity.

    In England, 29.3% of five-year-olds have tooth decay and 21.3% of four and five year olds are overweight or living with obesity. A diet high in sugary foods and drinks increases the risk of developing both conditions. and evidence suggests that children who are overweight or living with obesity are more likely to have tooth decay.

    Mouth disease is also linked with disease in other parts of the body. Gum disease, for example, is an infection of the tissues that support teeth, which has links with type 2 diabetes. When one disease is poorly controlled, it can make the other worse. The number of children with type 2 diabetes is increasing, with excess weight increasing the risk of developing this condition.

    Given the links between diet, tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, as well as other diseases that can develop when living with obesity, dental teams may be ideal professionals to tackle both tooth decay and obesity. It can be difficult to see an NHS dentist in the UK but NHS dental teams do see millions of children every year and already advise families on reducing sugary foods and drinks in the diet to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

    Dental teams taking body measurements is not new. Height and weight measurements to calculate body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, are already collected by some dental teams. These measurements are helpful when prescribing medication and for planning dental treatment for children who need a general anaesthetic or sedation.

    Some hospital dental teams, such as in Edinburgh and Dundee in Scotland, also offer weight and height checks for children and young people as part of routine appointments. The child’s weight is discussed with the child’s parent or carer in a sensitive way and families are offered referral to a local service to support healthy lifestyle changes.

    This opportunity to support a child with their oral health as well as weight aligns with the NHS initiative, Making Every Contact Count. Making Every Contact Count calls on all health care professionals to take every opportunity within their appointments with patients to help improve patient health.

    Children living in more deprived areas of the UK are at least twice as likely to be living with overweight and obesity. They’re also three times as likely to have tooth decay. The NHS aims to reduce these inequalities among children and has chosen oral health and diabetes as two key areas to improve care for children and young people.

    The public have shown support for dental teams to talk about weight at dental visits and offer guidance to lose weight and improve health when done in a supportive way. Research published in 2024, found that over 80% of the public supported weight measurements being taken by dental teams and a discussion of weight at dental appointments. Most of the studies in this review came from the USA.

    A UK based survey asked parents and carers if they would feel comfortable with their child(ren)’s weight and height being taken at a dental appointment in a dental practice. The survey found 58% of parents and carers would feel comfortable and a further 12% might feel comfortable with this approach.

    This was very similar to how adults completing the survey felt about having their own height and weight measured at a dental appointment with 60% reporting they would feel comfortable and a further 10% saying they may feel comfortable.

    Discussing weight can feel uneasy and dental teams say they worry they will upset patients if they talk about weight. Some studies have found dental teams are also concerned they do not have enough time to talk about weight and that they have not had training on how to do this.

    However, studies have found when weight checks and support are offered to families by trained dental teams, help is well received and lack of time rarely a problem.

    Dental decay and obesity are preventable in many cases. Both conditions can continue into adulthood with the risk of developing other health problems.

    Research shows that dental teams are willing to provide support and that children and their families are open to receiving help for obesity. Dental teams do have an important role to play, as well as GPs and allied healthcare professionals, in tackling obesity in children as well as tooth decay.

    Jessica Large does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How dentists could help tackle obesity in children – https://theconversation.com/how-dentists-could-help-tackle-obesity-in-children-252258

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF ends a 12-year trauma surgical intervention in Aden Yemen

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Since the intensity of conflict has decreased in Aden, Yemen, and the subsequent reduction of people facing violence-related trauma, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has concluded our 12-year project at the Aden trauma centre. We will now refocus our activities in Aden to provide medical care for people’s most pressing needs.

    Providing advanced trauma care during war

    Over the past 12 years, MSF teams in Aden have treated and rehabilitated thousands of people severely injured by the war in Yemen, providing more than 65,000 emergency consultations and close to 68,000 surgical procedures. Most patients suffered from open fractures, burn injuries, or sustained injuries from gunshots and explosives.

    As the conflict in Yemen deepened during the battle for Aden in 2015, activities at the Aden trauma centre intensified. During this time, while the centre treated a mass influx of patients with severe war wounds, our teams also ran advanced emergency post and surgical mobile clinics in the city to stabilise war-wounded individuals and improve their chances of survival.

    “The Aden trauma centre has been the only specialised acute trauma hospital in the area and served as an epicentre for treating patients. Some of our patients came from very far places, sometimes traveling for days in difficult conditions to seek free medical care,” says Olivier Marteau, MSF’s deputy head of mission in Yemen.

    Intensive care nurses in the Aden trauma centre, Yemen, February 2023.
    MSF

    In 2018, following the Hodeidah offensive, MSF teams increased the hospital’s capacity from 86 to 104 beds to respond to another influx of war-wounded patients.

    In 2020, conflict escalated in southern Hodeidah, while the hospital in Aden was receiving a high workload of severe trauma cases, where a person had multiple traumatic injuries, that required specialised, intensive and multidisciplinary care.

    Ryadh Mohammed Ahmed Saleh, 24, was among the patients admitted to the Aden trauma centre at this time. Originating from Abyan, a governate neighbouring Aden, he was referred to Aden for a serious gunshot wound. At the centre, he received colostomy surgery, which saved his life.

    “The gunshot wound was severe; I never thought I would be alive today,” says Ryadh. “When I got to the hospital, I was in excruciating pain. The doctors reassured me that I would be fine. Despite a few complications with the colostomy, I am grateful for my life today and for the medical support I received,” he says.

    To reduce the constant and high pressure for the medical, logistic and operational teams at the Aden trauma centre, in 2018 MSF opened a trauma field hospital in Mocha, a city located between Hodeidah and Aden, as conflict escalated on the west coast of Yemen.

    “From April to August 2020, the Aden trauma centre received 493 patients from the frontlines on the western coast, mostly injured by gun shots, landmines or bombing,” says Marteau. “Around 20 ambulances per day were transporting patients from Hodeidah and the surrounding area to Aden, a six-hour drive to reach lifesaving healthcare.”

    The opening of Mocha hospital released the intense pressure on the centre and allowed patients to be treated more quickly. On the other hand, it also enabled the centre to focus on more complex cases, and expand its admission criteria, including road-traffic accidents, other trauma-related injuries, as well as COVID-19 cases.

    Running the only COVID-19 centre for southern Yemen

    After the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in April 2020 in Yemen, MSF opened the first and only dedicated treatment centre for the whole of southern Yemen. For months, our teams faced immense challenges in facilitating the entrance of supplies and medical equipment, while the disease spread very quickly.

    “In the first weeks, we received hundreds of patients. Many arrived at the centre already suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome,” says Dr Youssef Nagwan, who has been working with MSF in Aden since 2015. “Our teams were working around the clock to provide the best treatment we could, but we were overwhelmed.”

    A member of the nursing staff adjusts oxygen levels for a critically ill patient with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit of Al-Gomhuria hospital. Aden, Yemen, August 2020.
    MSF/Hareth Mohammed

    In 2021, our teams saw a dramatic influx of critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation in Aden. After six years of war, Yemen’s healthcare system was crippled and the capacity to treat people in intensive care was limited. MSF started to provide support to the COVID-19 treatment centre in Al-Sadaqa hospital, with the support of the Ministry of Public Health and Population.

    Refocusing activities to meet new medical needs

    In 2023, there was a further decline in political violence in Yemen, which dropped to the lowest level since the start of the current conflict in 2015, with Ansar Allah and the internationally recognised government maintaining an unofficial truce since the end of the UN-mediated truce in October 2022.

    As a result, our teams in Aden saw a decrease in conflict-related trauma cases, while treating an increasing number of patients injured by domestic and road accidents.

    MSF is now assessing the medical gaps and priority needs in Aden in coordination the Ministry of Health. In 2025, MSF aims to refocus our activities in Aden to provide new medical services for people most in need.

    The new medical activity is under assessment and will be presented to the Ministry of Health in the second half of 2025. This transition period allows for renovations that MSF will undertake in the hospital. In the meantime, MSF, as a humanitarian organisation with expertise in emergencies and crises, remains fully prepared to intervene and respond to any medical emergencies that may arise.  

    The medical and humanitarian needs in Aden and across Yemen remain high. MSF is committed to the needs of people in Yemen, where we have been working since 1986. Today, MSF teams work in 13 hospitals across 13 governorates, providing support to more than 12 health facilities across the country.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent aiming to break world record as it hosts Big Centenary Tea Party

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Stoke-on-Trent is set to brew up something special this summer as part of its Centenary celebrations – with communities across the city invited to take part in a history-making Big Centenary Tea Party

    The event, which takes place at 11am on Monday, 8 July, will bring residents, businesses, schools and other organisations together for a shared moment of celebration – and the chance to break a world record.

    The event, supported by a wide partnership of local organisations, will see tea parties hosted across the city and beyond, in honour of Stoke-on-Trent’s 100 years of city status. From local parks and community halls to care homes, schools and office spaces, the Big Centenary Tea Party is set to bring communities together in celebration of the Centenary.

    The tea party is being arranged by organisations including YMCA North Staffordshire, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, the Community Foundation for Staffordshire, Made in Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent College, VAST, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, with support from the Ambassador Theatre Group and a wide range of local partners.

    Steve Adams, Chief Executive of Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Big Centenary Tea Party and bringing everyone together to celebrate our wonderful, shared history. Let’s use this world record attempt to dream big and work together to make the next 100 years just as incredible!”

    Nicky Twemlow, Community & Partnerships Director YMCA North Staffordshire, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the Big Centenary Tea Party and will be supporting the World Record attempt. Stoke-on-Trent is a brilliant city, and this feels a perfect way to honour the cities 100-year celebrations and bring communities together.”

    Hassan Rizvi, Principal and CEO of Stoke on Trent College, said: “Stoke on Trent College is delighted to be supporting the Big Centenary Tea Party. This is an opportunity to bring our staff together and celebrate 100 years of Stoke-on-Trent in style.”

    Lisa Healings, Chief Executive of VAST, said: “The Big Centenary Tea Party is a fantastic opportunity for communities to come together to build relationships and to celebrate, not only the history of our city, but also its future potential.”

    The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, said: “This is going to be a fun-filled event involving so many people from across our city.

    “I can’t wait to sit down, enjoy a friendly chat with others and tuck into a tasty cream tea. Our city’s tea sets are famous all over the world so I can’t think of a better way for us to get together for a brew in Stoke-on-Trent than this.”

    “Many organisations are working behind the scenes to make this special event attempt happen as part of our centenary year celebrations. I’d like to thank them for pulling it all together.

    “There is still time to take part, and you’ll help us get one [step] closer to possibly beating the record. If this happens, you’ll be able to tell your friends and family forever more, ‘I’m a record breaker!’”

    Tom Nadin, Head of Projects at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Staffordshire Chambers are proud to support The Big Centenary Tea Party – a brilliant celebration of community spirit, connection and 100 years of making a difference. It’s an opportunity to show how important it is to bring people together, and what better way than over a cuppa and a slice of cake!”

    Dwain Mcdonald, Executive Lead at Made In Stoke, said: “This is more than just a tea party; it’s a testament to the spirit of our community.  We are inviting everyone from our oldest residents to our youngest students to join us in creating a moment in history.”

    The world record attempt aims to gather the largest number of people taking part in a simultaneous cream tea party across multiple venues. From garden gatherings and office events to street parties and family get-togethers, every cup of tea will count toward making history.

    For more information on the Big Centenary Tea Party go to: https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk/tea-party/  

    Or email: teaparty@staffordshirechambers.co.uk or hello@madeinstoke.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Former rector of GUU Aleksey Lyalin has passed away. The farewell ceremony will take place on April 10

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 7, 2025, Doctor of Economics, Professor Alexey Mikhailovich Lyalin (04.07.1947–07.04.2025) passed away at the age of 78.

    The farewell to Alexei Mikhailovich will take place on Thursday, April 10, at 12:00 in the Church of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Moscow, Okskaya St., 17).

    Alexey Mikhailovich’s entire career is connected with our native university. In 1970, he graduated from the Moscow Engineering and Economics Institute named after S. Ordzhonikidze, where he subsequently worked his way up from a department assistant to the university rector, defending his candidate and doctoral dissertations.

    He worked as a senior lecturer, associate professor of the Department of Economics, Organization and Management in Urban Economy until December 1987. At the same time, the staff elected him chairman of the trade union committee of the university. In 1981, he was appointed dean of the preparatory faculty. From 1990 to 2006, he worked as vice-rector for academic work at the State University of Management.

    From April 25, 2006 to February 7, 2011, he was the rector of the State University of Management. After that, until 2022, he held the position of head of the project management department. Recently, Aleksey Mikhailovich worked as a professor of the project management department, under his scientific supervision, postgraduate students worked, and a number of scientific studies were conducted. Since 2018, he has been the chairman of the Council of Elders of the State University of Management.

    Alexey Mikhailovich was awarded a number of state and departmental awards: the medal “In Memory of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow”, the jubilee certificate of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Construction, Architecture and Housing Policy, the title of “Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation”, the Certificate of Honor of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” of the 2nd degree.

    Alexey Mikhailovich was distinguished by his great diligence, exactingness towards himself and others, and a very friendly attitude towards them. He had well-deserved authority and respect not only among students and the department staff, but also among all university employees.

    Alexey Mikhailovich put his whole soul and heart into teaching students, and showed truly paternal care both in terms of their acquiring professional knowledge and in terms of their understanding of their civic responsibility.

    The staff of the State University of Management mourns the irreparable loss and offers sincere condolences to his family and friends.

    The memory of the talented scientist and outstanding leader Alexei Mikhailovich Lyalin will forever remain in our hearts.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/08/2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: LocatorX Names Darrell Turner as Chief Operating Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LocatorX, a trusted leader in secure IoT sensors and supply chain asset visibility, today announced Darrell Turner as Chief Operating Officer. Turner brings more than 35 years of cross-industry leadership experience in healthcare, aerospace, and defense, along with deep expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies and strategic operational management to the executive team.

    “LocatorX is experiencing tremendous growth in terms of both the scale and the diversity of opportunities that we have the privilege of solving as we deliver transformational value for our customers. Continuing to earn our customer’s confidence requires an unrelenting focus on executing by meeting or exceeding every milestone, every day. Darrell’s proven track record of metrics-based discipline, world-class process improvement techniques, and exceptional team-building skills will position us to confidently scale and grow, unlocking real shareholder value while solving our customers’ most complex challenges,” commented Chester Kennedy, CEO of LocatorX.

    Prior to joining LocatorX, Turner served as President of the EMR-PM group at EverHealth, where he led strategy and organizational alignment across a portfolio of healthcare technology solutions, including Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Practice Management Systems (PM), Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), and Chronic Care Management platforms.

    He also served as President and COO of CollaborateMD, Inc., where he co-developed a cloud-based medical billing and practice management platform, empowering providers to streamline complex workflows and enhance patient care through real-time analytics and automation.

    In addition, Turner spent over two decades at Lockheed Martin’s Training & Simulation division, where he held various engineering and program management roles. He became a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt, driving operational efficiencies across multi-million-dollar defense and aerospace projects with full P&L responsibility.

    “I am excited to join LocatorX at a time when asset tracking and visibility across the supply chain is more critical than ever for national security and operational efficiency,” said Turner. “I look forward to working with the team to help scale quickly, optimize performance, and deliver continued value to our customers and partners.”

    Added Kennedy, “Darrell’s combination of experience, which includes both starting and growing a highly successful startup and working as a major contributor in a Fortune 50 corporation, will be extremely valuable as we continue to scale this business.”

    LocatorX ensures real-time visibility of mission-critical assets and connected insights that drive efficient processes across the supply chain. The company’s patented LX Digital Fingerprint, secure TAA-compliant IoT sensors, and data intelligence platform redefines how aerospace, defense, and government sectors track and manage critical assets. To learn more about LocatorX, visit www.locatorx.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/962a3efc-72a4-4d3b-9b54-b28c56aa6567

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ESO Releases Fire Service Index: Reports 28% Increase in Wildland Fire Incidents, Calls for Improvements in Decontamination Efforts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESO, a leading data services and software provider for EMS, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal agencies, released its 2025 Fire Service Index, which illustrates the staggering impact of nationwide wildland fires as well as the demand for broader decontamination efforts. Now in its sixth year, the index analyzed 7,919,600 incidents from calendar year 2024 from 2,739 participating agencies nationwide that use ESO services.

    “The Fire Service Index represents our commitment to protecting those who protect us,” said Antonio Fernandez, PhD, NRP, principal research scientist for ESO. “The insights we uncover can guide agencies to direct prevention resources where they’re needed most. By making these data freely accessible, we’re empowering fire departments nationwide to benchmark performance, identify critical trends and take proactive measures in their communities.”

    Notable findings from the analysis include:

    • 54,489 wildland fire incidents were reported in 2024 (up 28% year over year), totaling 1.78 million total acres burned—a 650% increase in acreage from 2023.
    • Wildland fire incidents were frequent throughout most of the year—not just in warmer months.
    • Fire departments continue to respond to more EMS calls than fire incidents. EMS incidents accounted for the majority of all incidents (63%), while fire responses accounted for just 3% of all calls.
    • 19% of firefighters did not document a decontamination procedure (e.g. cleaning exposed areas, dry-brushing gear, using wet wipes, etc.) after fire exposure, which can drastically increase long-term health risks such as cancer.

    “The intensifying frequency of wildland fires across the country is yet another reason why proper decontamination has become critical to safeguarding the health and lives of our nation’s firefighters,” said Bill Gardner, executive director of fire and EMS for ESO. “We’re encouraged that 80% of departments are documenting one decontamination method after exposure, but we cannot stress enough the importance of increasing that number to 100% and establishing multiple decontamination procedures as the gold standard.”

    Decontamination metrics are now available in ESO’s static benchmarking dashboards. This enhancement allows fire departments nationwide to compare themselves with peers and enables ESO to better monitor prevention effectiveness.

    The release of the 2025 Fire Service Index follows ESO’s receipt of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) V1 Compatible Badge, which ensures Fire Incident customers remain compliant with the new standard. To access the 2025 ESO Fire Service Index, click here. To learn more about ESO, visit www.eso.com.

    Methodology and Limitations
    The dataset for the 2025 ESO Fire Service Index report is real-world data, compiled and aggregated from 7,919,600 incidents that occurred in calendar year 2024 across the United States. There are no universal rules designed around these trends. The purpose of the Index is to be informative and directional, but it is not intended to be a scientific study—nor is it intended to be comprehensive in nature. ESO hopes this Index serves as a body of literature that adds to the discussion and conversation around best practices for each of the selected metrics to help improve community health and safety.

    About ESO
    ESO (ESO Solutions, Inc.) is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s EMS agencies, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal offices. ESO currently serves thousands of customers across the globe with a broad software portfolio, including the state-of-the-art Logis IDS CAD solution, industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next-generation ePCR; ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind health care interoperability platform; ESO Fire RMS, the modern fire Record Management System; ESO Patient Registry (trauma, burn and stroke registry software); and ESO State Repository. ESO is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.eso.com.

    Media Contact:
    For ESO,
    Hope Sander
    Red Fan Communications
    eso@redfancommunications.com
    737-280-8783

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MissionSquare Retirement to build out personal wealth unit, hires Betsy Schroeder to lead retail solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Washington, D.C., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MissionSquare Retirement is pleased to announce the appointment of Betsy Schroeder as head of Retail Products. In this newly created position, Schroeder will be responsible for building out the firm’s retail product offering and solution set. 

    “At MissionSquare, we understand the important role in- and out-of-plan solutions can play when it comes to serving the holistic needs of individuals and their families,” said Andre Robinson, chief executive officer and president of MissionSquare Retirement. “Introducing this new position to the firm is an important step for our team as we look to build the most optimal and efficient model to align with today’s evolving retirement plan industry. We are thrilled that Betsy will lead the team as she brings an experienced background in retail solutions development.”

    Schroeder comes to MissionSquare with more than 25 years of financial services experience and a successful, proven track record of retail product development. Most recently, she was head of Investment Product Management and Relationship Management at MassMutual. In this role, she was responsible for managing and overseeing MassMutual’s broker-dealer investment products and developing and growing the firm’s overall competitive product offering.

    “Betsy’s deep industry experience will benefit us greatly as we look to further advance our retail personal wealth offerings,” added Jeffrey Gibson, chief product strategy officer at MissionSquare Retirement. “With a strong history of developing and growing retail product offerings for employers, Betsy will play an instrumental role in expanding our solution set and executing our go-to-market strategy.”  

    Schroeder earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant University, is a Certified Public Accountant and holds FINRA Series 6 and 26 licenses. She is based in Canton, Conn., and reports directly to Gibson.

    MissionSquare continues to grow and expand its solutions to further strengthen its position in the market. This includes introducing new tools and resources to help employees and their families build retirement security.

    About MissionSquare Retirement

    Since its founding in 1972, MissionSquare Retirement has been dedicated to simplifying the path to retirement security for public service employees. As a mission-based, nonstock, nonprofit financial services company, we manage and administer over $72.0 billion in assets.* Our commitment to delivering results-oriented retirement plans, education, investments, and personalized advice sets us apart. Explore how we enable public service workers to build a secure financial future. For more information, visit www.missionsq.org or follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

    *As of Dec. 31, 2024. Includes 457(b) plans, 401(a) plans, 403(b) plans, Retirement Health Savings plans, Employer Investment Program plans, affiliated IRAs, and investment-only assets.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pappas Highlights Devastating Impact of Republican Budget on Medicaid, NH Medicaid Expansion

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    Approximately 180,000 Granite Staters, including 60,000 enrolled in Medicaid Expansion, would see their access to health care put at risk.

    In response to news that House Republicans will soon bring up the Senate’s amended version of their budget, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) held a roundtable with Erica Ungarelli, Granite Pathways Executive Director, Jake Berry, Vice President of Policy at New Futures, Jay Couture, President and CEO at the Seacoast Mental Health Center, Jon Stimmell, Interim Acting Executive Director and Program Director at Great Bay Services, Lisa Beaudion, Disability Policy expert, Melissa Hugener, Waypoint Family Resource Center, David Lombardi, CFO at Greater Seacoast Community Health, and a family from Dover who relies on Medicaid for health care access. 

    “Despite the overwhelming outcry from our communities, Republicans continue to push forward with a partisan budget that will slash Medicaid funding and put families at risk by cutting off their access to life-saving preventative care, long-term care, mental health, and addiction treatment,” said Congressman Pappas. “These severe cuts would hurt families in need of health care and services, and they would be devastating to our fight against the addiction and mental health crisis that we continue to face as a state. I will continue to fight back against these cuts and the tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk that are the centerpiece of Republicans’ bill. I’ll work to ensure that families across New Hampshire can access the care and services that benefit them as well as our overall health care system and economy.”

    Background: 

    In February, Pappas held a roundtable with New Hampshire health care advocates and community leaders to highlight the devastating impact the Republican budget would have on New Hampshire residents’ access to health care and local community health centers’ ability to serve their patients. Pappas voted against the resolution when it came to the floor. 

    The proposed Republican budget threatens Medicaid coverage, jeopardizing health care coverage for 68,008 Granite Staters living in New Hampshire’s First District, including 32,000 children and 4,463 seniors. Across the state, Medicaid provides health coverage to more than 182,000 total New Hampshire residents – 13.4% of all Granite Staters, 30.1% of all New Hampshire children, and 64% of residents living in nursing homes. 

    The proposed Republican budget also threatens coverage for approximately 60,000 people in New Hampshire who receive coverage through New Hampshire’s Medicaid Expansion, a program set up with bipartisan support. Since its enactment in 2014, more than 250,000 Granite State residents have accessed health care through the program at least once.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NH Delegation Calls on Secretary Kennedy to Restore $80 Million in Federal Funding to Address Substance Use and Mental Health Crises

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    The New Hampshire delegation is calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately restore $80 million in federal funding that New Hampshire relies on to address public health crises, including the substance use and mental health epidemics. 

    The delegation wrote, in part: “During his first term, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency, stating, ‘We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic.’ It seems that is no longer a goal of the current administration. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminated approximately $80 million in public health funding for New Hampshire, including programs administered by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).” 

    They continued: “For New Hampshire, this harmful decision to eliminate funding weakens our state’s ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, cuts support services for individuals suffering from mental health crises and substance use disorders and undermines efforts to adequately care for rural and underserved populations […] Staff across the state have already been terminated, and these terminations include our vital community health workers serving our most at-risk populations. Communities and organizations across New Hampshire, including community health centers, hospitals, mental health providers, schools and small businesses, are currently left without resources and holding the bag on already promised funding.” 

    They concluded: “Clawing back these funds does nothing to improve our state’s public health system. Instead, you are needlessly putting our communities’ health at risk and jeopardizing our constituents’ livelihoods and their organizations. We urge you to reinstate this vital funding immediately.” 

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    The New Hampshire delegation has led efforts to address the substance use and mental health crises. Just last year, the delegation celebrated $29,890,890 in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants heading to New Hampshire to help address the substance use disorder epidemic. 

    Congressman Pappas led 50 of his House colleagues in urging HHS Secretary Kennedy to reverse the cancellation of over $12 billion in federal grants for state health services from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maine Delegation Announces Maine Veterans Home Receives Reimbursement for Domiciliary Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden today announced that Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) has received full reimbursement due to them from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for domiciliary care provided to veterans since 2021. In 2020, Congress passed legislation authorizing the VA to cover the costs of nursing home care provided by state veterans’ homes for veterans with early-stage dementia after it abruptly stopped covering these payments in 2019. Unfortunately, the VA delayed the required rulemaking by more than two years. This lag forced MVH to pay out-of-pocket for the care costing approximately $130,000 per month and over $3 million since 2019.

    “For decades, Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) has provided quality care to Maine veterans; working hard to make good on our nation’s promise to give back to those who served,” said Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden. “However, for years, MVH has faced financial strain due to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delay in reimbursing it for nursing home care for veterans battling dementia, putting additional burdens on Maine veterans and their families. We are excited to share that MVH has finally received full reimbursement from the VA for this care — an important step that will ensure its doors can stay open, and our veterans can continue to access important care and support.”

    Domiciliary care was established by the VA after the Civil War as a type of assisted living that is provided to older veterans who are independently mobile, or semi-mobile and incapable of living alone. Over 115 MVH residents receive domiciliary care, 80 percent of whom are on Medicaid.

    The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law on January 5, 2021, authorized the VA to resume reimbursements for domiciliary care at state homes like MVH. Since then, the Maine Congressional delegation has continuously pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse Maine Veterans’ Homes. In spring of 2023, the delegation introduced the Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act, which would require the VA to restart payments for current care as mandated by law and retroactively provide MVH with the reimbursements for past care. Months later, the delegation received news the VA had agreed to resume reimbursing Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) for domiciliary care, but did not follow through on delivering the funds. After pressure from the Maine delegation, in September 2023 the VA announced a proposed rule that would retroactively reimburse MVH for the care they’ve provided back to January 2020. Last spring, the delegation wrote a letter to the former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough requested an update on the rule and in October 2024, the VA announced the finalized rule that would provide retroactive reimbursement for MVH.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Announces Collaboration with Stanford Medicine to Advance Sleep Apnea Detection and Beyond

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Stanford University today jointly announced a research project with Stanford Medicine to initiate an innovative health solution based on Samsung’s obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) feature1 which has received De Novo — the first of its kind authorization — by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In recognition of World Health Day, this project underscores the importance of sleep in overall health by taking further steps in proactive care, beginning with a pioneering study.
    Led by professor Robson Capasso as principal investigator and professor Clete Kushida as co-principal investigator, the joint study is designed to explore potential ways to further enhance Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature to better support sleep health through timely interventions. Looking ahead, efforts will focus on going beyond detection by leveraging AI technology for daily monitoring to sleep apnea management, empowering users with the best possible sleep tools to improve their health.

    Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature on the Galaxy Watch2, which detects signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, previously received authorization by the US FDA following approval by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). With its latest approval by Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the feature will become available to users in Brazil in late April, increasing availability to 29 markets globally. The Sleep Apnea feature will continue to be expanded to more countries around the world, allowing more people to proactively spot symptoms earlier, which help prevent further long-term OSA health-related complications.
    “The ethical, equitable and evidence-based use of technology, after its validation through research is crucial in developing new approaches to detection and management of sleep apnea and other serious sleep-related health conditions,” said Robson Capasso, MD, FAASM, Chief of Sleep Surgery, Professor of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, former Associate Dean of Research, Stanford University School of Medicine. “We are excited about this groundbreaking collaboration and proud to be initiating a study utilizing smartwatches, a friendly and commonly accepted wearable”
    “This collaboration with Stanford Medicine will combine our deep technological expertise with Stanford’s leading research capabilities to unlock new innovation in preventive care,” said Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Together, we aim to move beyond screening to also provide more meaningful daily support that helps people better understand and manage their sleep health.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Lowrey, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

    Farmworkers at Del Bosque Farms pick and pack melons on a mobile platform in Firebaugh, Calif., in July 2021. AP Photo/Terry Chea

    Agricultural employers who provide farmworkers with health insurance earn higher profits, even after accounting for the cost of that coverage. In addition, farmworkers who get health insurance through their employers are more productive and earn more money than those who do not.

    These are the key findings from our study published in the March 2025 issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

    To conduct this research, we crunched over three decades of data from the Labor Department’s National Agricultural Workers Survey. We focused on California, the nation’s largest producer of fruits, nuts and other labor-intensive agricultural products in the U.S., from 1989 to 2022.

    We determined that if 20% more farmworkers got health insurance coverage, they would have earned $23,063 a year in 2022, up from $22,482 if they did not. Their employers, meanwhile, would earn $7,303 in net profits per worker annually in this same scenario, versus $6,598.

    Why it matters

    Roughly half of California’s agricultural employers are facing labor shortages at a time when the average age of U.S. farmworkers is also rising.

    Some of them, including grape producers, are responding by investing more heavily in labor-saving equipment, which helps reduce the need for seasonal manual labor. However, automated harvesting isn’t yet a viable or affordable option for labor-intensive specialty crops such as melons and strawberries.

    Despite labor shortages, agricultural employers may be reluctant to increase total compensation for farmworkers. They may also be wary of providing additional benefits such as health insurance for two main reasons.

    First, seasonal workers are, by definition, transient, meaning that the employer who provides coverage may not necessarily be the same one who benefits from a healthier worker. Second, it costs an employer money but doesn’t necessarily benefit them in the future if the worker moves on.

    Most U.S. farmworkers are immigrants from Mexico or Central America. Roughly 42% are immigrants who are in the U.S. without legal authorization, down from 55% in the early 2000s.

    As the share of farmworkers who are unauthorized immigrants has declined, the share who are U.S. citizens – including those born here – has grown and now stands at about 39%.

    The low wages farmworkers earn offer little incentive for more U.S. citizens and permanent residents to take these jobs. These jobs might become more attractive if employers offered health care coverage to protect the health of the worker and their household.

    Farmworkers who lack legal authorization to be in the U.S. are not eligible for private health insurance policies, and many can’t enroll in Medicaid, a government-run health insurance program that’s primarily for low-income Americans and people with disabilities. Regardless, some employers do take steps to help them gain access to health care services. As of 2025, a large share of farmworkers remain uninsured, including many citizens and immigrants with legal status.

    Limited access to health care is an unfortunate reality for farmworkers, whose jobs are physically demanding and dangerous. In addition, farmworkers are paid at or near the minimum wage and are constantly searching for their next employment opportunity. This uncertainty causes high levels of stress, which can contribute to chronic health issues such as hypertension.

    What still isn’t known

    It is hard to estimate the effect of employer-provided health insurance on workers and employers, since labor market outcomes are a result of highly complex interactions.

    For example, wages, productivity and how long someone keeps their job are highly interdependent variables determined by the interaction between what workers seek and what employers offer. And wages do not always reflect a worker’s skills and abilities, as some people are more willing to accept a job with low pay if their compensation includes good benefits such as health insurance.

    The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research – https://theconversation.com/providing-farmworkers-with-health-insurance-is-worth-it-for-their-employers-new-research-253200

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Defence medical waiting times cut as new appointments system launches

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Defence medical waiting times cut as new appointments system launches

    New Defence appointment management approach results in a 26% reduction in waiting times for patients accessing doctor appointments in primary healthcare.

    MOD Crown Copyright

    Total Triage, introduced by Strategic Command’s Defence Medical Services, has been adopted by Defence medical centres and is designed to reduce unnecessary face-to-face appointments and enable greater and quicker access to medical care for those in need. One of the first centres to use it has seen a 90% reduction in such doctor appointments, with 70% of all enquiries handled at first point of contact and leading to greater patient and staff satisfaction.

    The new system completed its national rollout at 105 Defence Primary Healthcare medical centres across the UK earlier this year. In addition, Total Triage hubs have now been established at 35 Defence medical centres with a further 13 neighbouring centres permanently using the hubs by local agreement.

    Under the new arrangements patients submit a request through the online form, or phone the medical centre where the request is triaged and allocated to a suitable qualified clinician within the multi-disciplinary team. The patient should receive a call back within 24 working hours by a medical professional to be given medical advice or alternatively referred to either a face-to-face appointment or remote consultation with a specialist. This ensures the patient gets to see the right healthcare worker at the right time.

    Flight Sergeant Chris Workman MBE, Project Lead for Total Triage, said:

    The health and welfare of our patients is our top priority, and the introduction of Total Triage is already seeing positive results in healthcare outcomes. Patients have reported positive feedback regarding the ease of submitting their request alongside the speedy delivery of their clinical outcome with some 4 week waiting lists being reduced to zero days.

    Equally, staff are experiencing a boost as the Total Triage team have enjoyed a wider range of patient consultations, developed a distinct sense of camaraderie and a renewed pride in the delivery of joint healthcare for our patients.

    This is based the innovative system used by NHS GP practices during the COVID19 pandemic, to ensure people could still receive medical advice when in person appointments were not possible. The concept was then adapted by the Defence Medical Services for use at medical centres, reducing unnecessary travel by patients as well as improving resilience across the regions as medical centres work collaboratively to improve patient outcomes. This has resulted in a reduced amount of appointment booking calls in the morning which lowers the pressure on reception staff and enables quicker patient treatment.

    Director Defence Healthcare, Air Vice Marshal Dave McLoughlin, said:

    The implementation of Total Triage has been a game changer for Defence Primary Healthcare. It has resulted in an overall reduction in waiting times for doctor and nurse appointments by nearly a third. This ensures that the right patient sees the right healthcare worker at the right time.

    Providing safe and effective healthcare to the Armed Forces population is a priority for Defence. Witnessing the dedication of the teams delivering this initiative at scale and at pace, alongside the reports of high levels of patient and staff satisfaction is remarkable and inspiring. My sincere thanks to everyone who has worked hard to implement Total Triage.

    This is part of wider programme of primary healthcare improvements set up by the Defence Medical Services to identify and deliver better healthcare to Armed Forces personnel, including the introduction of SMS appointment reminders and combining practices to increase access to medical services and resources.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on Free Trade Agreement negotiations with South Korea

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Update on Free Trade Agreement negotiations with South Korea

    Update following round 4 of negotiations on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea

    Negotiations took place in London between 10 and 21 March 2025. 

    The fourth round of negotiations to upgrade the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Republic of Korea (RoK) took place in London between 10 and 21 March 2025. As with previous rounds, negotiators from both sides engaged productively across a broad range of areas in an ongoing effort to enhance and solidify the economic partnership between us. 

    Negotiations continue to centre around three key objectives: 

    1. Securing and future proofing existing arrangements: Progress was made in rules of origin discussions. Product Specific Rules were discussed for a range of important exporting sectors. Negotiators will continue to seek a chapter which accounts for both existing and future supply chains. 

    2. Capturing recent advances in Trade Policy: Negotiations on a new and comprehensive Digital Trade chapter progressed positively, with commitments on data, trade digitisation and business safeguards under discussion this round. 

    3. Supporting our strategic relationship with the Republic of Korea: During the round good progress was made towards agreeing new cooperation commitments covering areas such as the Environment, Trade and Gender Equality and Supply Chains. 

    Economic growth is the core mission of this government, and this FTA has an important role to play in supporting our £15.3 billion trade relationship with the Republic of Korea. 

    The government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding high standards across a range of sectors, including protections for the National Health Service. 

    The fifth round of negotiations is currently expected to take place in Seoul in the Summer of 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: 3D Systems’ Solution Enables World’s First Facial Implant Manufacturing at Point-of-Care

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • First 3D-printed PEEK facial implant manufactured at the point-of-care using 3D Systems’ EXT 220 MED
    • Point-of-care collaboration between surgeons, engineers, and technology enables tailored solutions to address complex patient needs
    • 3D Systems’ solutions accelerating additive manufacturing use in maxillofacial reconstruction — total market anticipated to reach more than $4 billion by end of 2034

    ROCK HILL, S.C., April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced that in collaboration with the University Hospital Basel (Switzerland) the Company’s unique point-of-care additive manufacturing solution has been used to design and produce the world’s first Medical Device Regulation (MDR)-compliant 3D-printed PEEK facial implant. Prof. Florian Thieringer and Dr. Neha Sharma, together with their team of biomedical engineers, successfully designed and manufactured a custom device to address a patient’s unique need using 3D Systems technology and product manufacturing expertise. They used this implant as part of a successful surgery completed at the hospital on March 18, 2025. Production of the first MDR-compliant facial implant was completed using VESTAKEEP® i4 3DF PEEK by Evonik on 3D Systems’ EXT 220 MED. The cleanroom-based architecture of the printer and simplified post-processing workflows enable the efficient production of patient-specific medical devices directly at the hospital.

    “Our goal is always to provide the best possible care for our patients,” said Prof. Thieringer. “Being directly involved in both the design and manufacturing of patient-specific implants — right here in our hospital — allows us to tailor treatments precisely to individual needs, respond faster, and improve surgical outcomes. The ability to produce implants on demand represents a new era in personalized care.”

    For more than a decade, surgeons have used VSP® surgical planning solutions that combine best-in-class digital workflows with the industry’s broadest additive manufacturing portfolio of printers and materials to deliver comprehensive patient-matched solutions. Bringing together surgeons, engineers, and technology in the clinical setting allows for the immediate development of patient-specific treatments, overcoming the limitations of standard medical devices. As a result, healthcare providers are improving outcomes1,2, increasing efficiency3, and lowering the cost of care4. 

    “The rapid adoption of the EXT 220 MED by leading healthcare institutions combined with our expanding applications pipeline, underscores the transformative power of 3D printing in clinical settings,” said Stefan Leonhardt, Ph.D., director, medical devices, 3D Systems. “We are proud to collaborate with the pioneering clinicians at University Hospital Basel and other leading hospitals worldwide to expand the applications that can be addressed with additive manufacturing. Since its launch in August 2023, our innovative solution has already been utilized in more than 80 successful cranial implant surgeries at partner hospitals, demonstrating its swift integration and real-world effectiveness in delivering personalized patient care. The successful use of the EXT 220 MED for maxillofacial implants showcases our commitment to ongoing innovation that delivers personalized healthcare solutions for new applications.”

    It is anticipated that the use of 3D-printed facial implants will accelerate based on the availability of advanced technologies. According to Market Research Future5, the 3D-printed maxillofacial implant market size was estimated at more than $2 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to more than double to over $4 billion by the end of 2034. Additive manufacturing is disrupting this sector by enabling a more cost-effective, efficient solution. As a pioneer in personalized healthcare solutions, 3D Systems has worked with surgeons for over a decade to plan more than 150,000 patient-specific cases and additively manufacture more than two million implants and instruments for 100+ CE-marked and FDA-cleared devices from its world-class, FDA-registered, ISO 13485-certified facilities in Littleton, Colorado, and Leuven, Belgium. For more information, please visit the Company’s website.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About 3D Systems
    More than 35 years ago, Chuck Hull’s curiosity and desire to improve the way products were designed and manufactured gave birth to 3D printing, 3D Systems, and the additive manufacturing industry. Since then, that same spark continues to ignite the 3D Systems team as we work side-by-side with our customers to change the way industries innovate. As a full-service solutions partner, we deliver industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental; aerospace, space and defense; transportation and motorsports; AI infrastructure; and durable goods. Each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise and passion of our employees who endeavor to achieve our shared goal of Transforming Manufacturing for a Better Future. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

    Investor Contact:   investor.relations@3dsystems.com 
    Media Contact:      press@3dsystems.com

    1 Ballard DH, Trace AP, Ali S, et al. Clinical Applications of 3D Printing: Primer for Radiologists. Acad Radiol 2018;25(1):52–65. 
    2 Chepelev L, Wake N, Ryan J, et al. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 3D printing Special Interest Group (SIG): guidelines for medical 3D printing and appropriateness for clinical scenarios. 3D Print Med 2018;4(1):11. 
    3 Morgan C, Khatri C, Hanna SA, Ashrafian H, Sarraf KM. Use of three-dimensional printing in preoperative planning in orthopaedic trauma surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Orthop 2020;11(1):57– 67.
    4 Ballard DH, Mills P, Duszak R Jr, Weisman JA, Rybicki FJ, Woodard PK. Medical 3D Printing Cost-Savings in Orthopedic and Maxillofacial Surgery: Cost Analysis of Operating Room Time Saved with 3D Printed Anatomic Models and Surgical Guides. Acad Radiol. 2020 Aug;27(8):1103-1113.
    5 Market Research Future, 3D Printed Maxillofacial Implant Market Research Report By Application (Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction, Dental Implants, Orthognathic Surgery, Trauma Reconstruction), By Material (Titanium, POM, Polyether Ether Ketone, Glass Ceramics), By Technology (Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, Fused Deposition Modeling, Computer-Aided Design), By End Use (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers) and By Regional (North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) – Forecast to 2034 (March 2025).

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: THOMPSON, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND PATIENTS WARN OF DEVASTATING REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE CUTS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

    Congressional Republicans’ plan to slash health care to fund tax giveaways for the ultra-rich will harm care for everyone

    Davis, CA – On Friday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Chief Behavioral Officer/Chief Community Health Officer for CommuniCare+OLE Health Sara Gavin, Interim Vice Chancellor of UC Davis Health Dr. Bruce Lee Hall, Yolo County Supervisor Sheila Allen, patient advocate Kate Laddish, and Susanna Hernandez of SEIU Local 2015 participated in a press conference at Yolo Health and Human Services’ Davis Office. The speakers warned that Congressional Republicans’ plan to cut at least $880 billion from the budget that funds Medicaid in order to fund tax breaks for the ultra-rich will devastate local access to care for everyone.

    “Congressional Republicans have mandated an $880 billion healthcare budget cut, something that can’t be done without destroying Medicaid. And the destruction of Medicaid will hurt everyone,” said Thompson. “One-third of health care in California comes from Medicaid. Without this funding, hospitals and health centers in our community will be forced to slash services or shut down altogether. That means everyone loses access to care. All of this is for one purpose: to facilitate a tax giveaway for the richest people in our country.”

    BACKGROUND

    In February, Congressional Republicans passed a partisan budget bill that instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, to cut its spending by $880 billion. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has since analyzed the budget and confirmed that the Committee cannot meet Congressional Republicans’ mandated level of spending cuts without deep cuts to Medicaid. Millions of people would lose coverage entirely, and those who remain covered would see reduced benefits and fewer available providers.

    Congressional Republicans’ proposed cuts to health care and nutrition programs in their budget bill add up to nearly the exact amount of savings the party needs in order to implement their tax bill delivering massive tax breaks for corporations and those making over $743,000 per year.

    Watch a video of the press conference here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 8 April 2025 A journey to safer childbirth in Pakistan

    Source: World Health Organisation

    It’s time. A pregnant woman in Punjab, Pakistan, dials 1-0-3-4, toll-free. Her journey to safe childbirth has been complicated by a lack of transportation. She is connected to a call centre in Lahore that receives 5000 calls a day from pregnant women and their caregivers in need of transportation for delivery or antenatal complications. The call centre was established in 2017 and currently employs 87 call agents. Utilizing Google maps, GPS trackers and text messaging, the call centre operator dispatches a driver to collect labouring women from their homes and transfers them to a primary care centre, where they will deliver their babies with access to interventions to ensure healthy beginnings for both mother and baby. 

    Call agents in Lahore processing calls and dispatching drivers. © RAS Call Center Lahore / IRMNCHN Program

    In 2007, the maternal mortality ratio in Punjab was 227 deaths per 100 000 live births. This was a result of poor socio-economic conditions, challenges in accessing health care in rural areas, and a lack of decision-making power among young women. At the time, approximately 30% of maternal deaths in Pakistan were attributable to delays in reaching health-care facilities, with many women facing long travel distances to give birth as well as lack of access to transportation.

    Over the last two decades, the Government of Punjab has scaled up around 2500 basic health units and equipped 1800 with 24-hour basic obstetric care services. These basic units, the country’s first-level health-care facilities, play a crucial role in addressing maternal and child health issues, especially in rural areas where access to health care is limited. Based on the 2023 census, nearly two thirds of Pakistan’s population resides in rural areas.

    Under the national universal health coverage essential package of health services, the Government of Punjab has now funded a fleet of over 600 ambulances to transport pregnant women from their homes in rural areas to birth centres for delivery. The same service also transports sick children (under age 5 years) for urgent medical care. On average, the rural ambulance service transports 2800 women each day across the province, including public holidays. The cost per transfer for a typical case is approximately US$ 10–15. The service is vital for the more than 30% of pregnant women in Punjab who cannot reach health facilities for safe delivery. Without the service, they would be forced to deliver at home, without access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

    “We promote the rural ambulance service through a combination of community outreach and public awareness campaigns. We visit homes, hold community meetings, and distribute informational materials to ensure that every pregnant woman knows about the toll-free number 1-0-3-4 and how to access the service. During the first antenatal care visit, the staff facilitates the registration of pregnant women for the ambulance service. Their personal touch and deep knowledge of their respective communities make a significant difference in spreading the word effectively,” said Saeeda Khan, Lady Health Worker, Ali Raza Abad, Lahore.

    The government’s Integrated Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health & Nutrition Programme oversees the technical and financial aspects, while the central call centre and daily operations are managed by a telecom operator and a private car rental company, respectively. The rental company supplies fuel, drivers and maintains the ambulance, with performance tracked via a dashboard that requires the engine to start within two minutes of case assignment. 

    A pregnant women arriving at a rural health centre in Challian Wala, Punjab to safely deliver her baby. © RHC Challian Wala / M.B. Din

    The real-time dashboard shows GPS-tracked ambulance locations, allowing call centre operators to assign the nearest vehicle to waiting women and their caregivers. Once assigned, both the driver and the woman receive a call and a text message with their respective contact information. The text messages enable communication between drivers and women and allow drivers to pinpoint exact addresses, a task that is often difficult in rural areas.

    “We prioritize calls based on the urgency of the situation, with high-risk pregnancies and emergencies at the top of the list. If a connection drops or a phone battery dies, our system automatically sends text messages to both the driver and the client, ensuring they can still communicate. Additionally, Lady Health Workers and Skilled Birth Attendants are always ready to step in and provide support, ensuring that no woman is left without assistance,” said Bilal Ahmed, District Transport Officer, Outsourced Management Firm.

    Since its debut in 2017, the ambulance service has facilitated the transport of over 3 million women from their homes to health facilities, approximately three and a half million women from primary care to secondary or tertiary hospitals, and around 10 000 children for urgent referrals. It is estimated that at least half of the 500 000 emergency referrals to secondary and tertiary care hospitals have effectively prevented severe morbidity and mortality among mothers and newborns in Punjab. 

    “Without the rural ambulance service, my birth experience would have been incredibly stressful and risky. I would likely have had to deliver at home without skilled medical assistance, which could have jeopardized both my health and my baby’s. The timely support from Lady Health Workers and Skilled Birth Attendants ensured that I received quality care and safe delivery at a health facility. Their presence and the ambulance service made all the difference,” said Keenza Faisal, Beneficiary, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore.

    Today, there are 157 maternal deaths for every 100 000 live births in Punjab, a decrease of more than 30% from 2007. This decrease has resulted from interventions related to improved access to maternal health services, in addition to addressing the underlying causes for maternal deaths – for instance, through improved access to family planning.

    Still, there is work to be done. 

    Removing barriers like discriminatory social norms, financial constraints and limited decision-making power for women is essential to advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes.

    Ellen Mpangananji Thom / Deputy WHO County Representative, Pakistan

    “Sustainable progress demands more than just service delivery: health systems must address gender inequalities, strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights, and ensure equitable access to quality emergency obstetric and newborn care, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Removing barriers like discriminatory social norms, financial constraints and limited decision-making power for women is essential to advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes,” said Ellen Mpangananji Thom, Deputy WHO County Representative, Pakistan.

    This story was originally brought to life on the WHO-UNFPA Learning by Sharing Portal (LSP), which highlights the critical work of various stakeholders in improving access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services within the broader context of universal health coverage. The LSP seeks to create a repository of implementation stories on effective health system interventions and serves as a valuable resource for shared learning, advocacy and capacity building at global, regional and country levels.

    In follow up to World Health Day, please join the WHO-UNFPA Learning by Sharing Portal (LSP), WHO Pakistan, and the Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department, Punjab, Pakistan, on 9 April at 13:00 CET for an interactive discussion with experts and implementers involved in the roll out of the rural ambulance service in Punjab, Pakistan. Please register for the event here. If you have questions for the implementers, please submit them here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 7 April 2025 Statement World must act with urgency to save Palestinians in Gaza

    Source: World Health Organisation

    For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza.

    More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up, and vital equipment is stuck. 

    Over 1000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just the first week after the breakdown of the ceasefire, the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.

    Just a few days ago, the 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages. 

    The partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.

    The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza. 

    While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low. 

    We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life.   

    New Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee yet again, with no safe place to go. 

    No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including over 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023.

    With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld. 

    Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.

    +++

    Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

    Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF

    Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, UNOPS

    Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA

    Cindy McCain, Executive Director, WFP

    Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 8 April 2025 Departmental update WHO launches new membership of expert group for behavioural sciences

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization has launched new membership for its Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Sciences for Better Health. This group will provide scientific advice to channel behavioural science evidence into policy to achieve better health outcomes.

    Expert group for behavioural sciences

    Following a global call which attracted 340 applications from 71 countries, sixteen highly qualified advisers were selected. These experts represent a diversity of 15 nationalities across all six WHO regions and have expertise in social and behavioural sciences, including psychology, anthropology and behavioural economics. Their experience covers a variety of health topics such as maternal, newborn and child health; HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; cardiovascular disease, obesity and physical activity; vaccination; water and sanitation; and emergency preparedness and response. Importantly, they have substantial experience of using behavioural science to design and implement policies and programmes in low- and middle-income countries.

    The new members of the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Sciences for Better Health will support WHO’s response to Resolution WHA76.7 and contribute to WHO’s 14th Global Programme of Work, through advising on the development of methods, tools and mechanisms to support Member States in applying the behavioural sciences. They will also inform the implementation of the Behavioural Sciences for Better Health Initiative.

    “Integrating behavioural insights into policies is key to advancing health equity efficiently and effectively,” said Dr Ailan Li, Assistant Director-General of WHO. “Understanding human behaviour is essential to designing effective strategies. WHO has a very important leadership role in channelling behavioural sciences evidence into policy to achieve public health impact on the ground and global health outcomes.” 

    “Providing evidence-based advice is central to WHO’s mission, and the Technical Advisory Group will ensure that that advice is based on the latest behavioural science,” said Elena Altieri, Head of the Behavioural Insights Unit at WHO.

    Behavioural science for better health

    Human behaviour affects health outcomes. Understanding and integrating behavioural evidence at the individual, community, and population level is essential to design effective policies and programmes.

    The World Health Assembly Resolution WHA76.7 on Behavioural Sciences for Better Health, which was adopted in 2023, called for the mainstreaming of behavioural sciences to achieve more effective, equitable, and people-centred health policies.

    The Behavioural Sciences for Better Health Initiative promotes and enables the systematic use of behavioural and social sciences in public health across the work of WHO and that of its partners. This initiative is part of WHO’s transformation to better promote health, keep the world safe and serve the most vulnerable in a changing world.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Major Grants for Teen Substance Use Treatment

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Sarah Feldstein Ewing, Vice Chair for Research in UConn School of Medicine’s psychiatry department, is fascinated by teen psychology. Why do teens make the choices they make? What factors influence their decision-making? And how can caregivers and counselors help support them in making healthy decisions? 

    Her research into these questions has spanned an impressive early career across multiple institutions. Now, Feldstein Ewing is the enthusiastic recipient of two major federal grants. 

    Pain and Teen Substance Use

    Feldstein Ewing leads one of two sites receiving a combined $3,355,184 over five years from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for a project exploring young adult use of cannabis and opioids. As an expert in adolescent substance use, Feldstein Ewing is partnering with Anna C. Wilson, a pediatric pain specialist. Wilson is a colleague at Feldstein Ewing’s former institution, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). 

    The study follows young people in Oregon, where underage cannabis use saw a significant uptick following state legalization of recreational adult cannabis use in 2015. 

    “Kids in Oregon were starting to make choices not to drink, but instead to use cannabis, because they were under the impression that it would not have been legalized if cannabis wasn’t safe,” says Feldstein Ewing.  

    Sarah Feldstein Ewing is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health. (Courtesy photo)

    At the same time, many teens and young adults are prescribed opioids at some point, whether due to a major injury or a routine procedure like wisdom teeth extraction. This means that co-use of cannabis and opioids is likely occurring for this age group.  

    But little is understood about the potential harms of using these two types of substances simultaneously, especially for young people. It is also unclear how effective and safe cannabis is for relieving pain in this age group, even though many young people report self-medicating pain with cannabis. 

    The research team will be alerted to new opioid prescriptions for emerging adults via local medical record updates. From there, they can follow up with the patients to assess their pain and substance use history, as well as personal risk factors for substance use and related problems. 

    Patients will be monitored closely for two weeks after their initial opioid prescription, and will receive follow-up check-ins at regular intervals over the next two years. Throughout this time, the researchers will track their outcomes in terms of pain, mental health, and substance use. The central hypothesis is that pain experiences, as well as patterns of opioid and cannabis use in the acute pain period (immediately after the inciting medical event), will influence opioid use, cannabis use, and related problems over time. 

    “Often, for people who have opioid addiction later on, they talk about how they started when they got a prescription after a broken bone or some other medical event during their teen years,” Feldstein Ewing says. 

    The team will also explore psychosocial risk factors for substance use and related problems, like loneliness and depression. 

    “We just don’t know what goes into the choice around who uses what [substances],” Feldstein Ewing explains. “We do know that if you’re struggling with sadness and loneliness, you’re more likely to use cannabis and other substances, so we want to know, is that also true for prescription pain medication?” 

    Into the Hyperscanner

    From the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Feldstein Ewing has received a five-year grant totaling $2,737,888 to help determine the efficacy of group therapy for adolescents who are in counseling for alcohol use. 

    “Most kids get group therapy,” Feldstein Ewing says, “but even though group therapy is widely used, the data on how well it works and why are ambiguous at best.” 

    Part of the problem is that teens are uniquely influenced by what others think and say about them. Socially, this is a gift, Feldstein Ewing points out – it allows them to adapt to a variety of social environments, with greater ease than most adults – but it can be a hindrance in the context of group healing. 

    The research team is looking for iatrogenic effects, meaning effects that occur in the context of treatment.  

    Like an infection picked up at a hospital, harmful statements from peers in group therapy may lead to poorer therapeutic outcomes for teens. On the flip side, though, hearing positive encouragement from peers may provide a healing boost for this age group that is even greater than what adults would experience in the same type of behavioral treatment. 

    To test this hypothesis, the researchers are using a technique called hyperscanning, where MRI units are connected side by side so that two patients can interact with each other and be scanned simultaneously. The equipment is located at the University of Texas at Dallas, where Feldstein Ewing’s longtime neuroimaging collaborator and co-PI, Francesca Filbey, is a neuroscience professor.  

    In the scanner, each patient will hear negative and positive statements about their capacity to reduce or stop their drinking, in the voice of the other patient. These statements will come directly from their group therapy session, which will be recorded. 

    Then, the researchers can observe the real-time changes in the brain as the patients actively select each type of statement for their co-participating peer.

    How does it feel to hear a disparaging remark about your perceived ability to stop drinking – even when it’s something you’ve heard countless times before? How does it feel to be encouraged by someone whose opinion you value? How much does that make you feel like you can change your drinking? Feldstein Ewing will be able to examine how these peer statements impact patients’ brains, as well as how these statements impact patients’ own perceived ability to change their behavior.

    The researchers will also track the participants following their group therapy experiences to see how their drinking behavior changes or stays the same over the course of 12 months. 

    Toward Effective Interventions for Teens

    Both these projects are geared toward designing better interventions for teens who are struggling with alcohol and substance use.  

    Currently, many young people receive the same therapy as adults. But Feldstein Ewing’s research has shown that this may be a “square peg, round hole” approach – what works for adults may be ineffective or even discouraging for adolescents. 

    With the insight gained from these projects, Feldstein Ewing will help pioneer new clinical strategies to revolutionize the field of teen substance use treatment. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – DOH To Launch A Statewide Health And Media Survey Recruitment Via Text Messages

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – DOH To Launch A Statewide Health And Media Survey Recruitment Via Text Messages

    Posted on Apr 7, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

    KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIA‘ĀINA

    KENNETH S. FINK, M.D., MGA, MPH
    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

         DOH TO LAUNCH A STATEWIDE HEALTH AND MEDIA SURVEY

     RECRUITMENT VIA TEXT MESSAGES    

         

         

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 7, 2025                                                                                                              25-032

    HONOLULU — Each year, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) conducts surveys to learn about health behaviors and attitudes of Hawai‘i residents. Beginning later this month, DOH will launch the Hawai‘i Health and Media Survey to learn more about how people access and respond to health-related information. The survey will use a new method — text messaging — to reach a broader audience.

    In the coming weeks, selected adults across the state may receive a text message from 808-431-0118 or 808-431-0125, inviting them to participate in the survey. The DOH encourages anyone who receives this message to consider participating.

    The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Each text message contains a unique survey link that can only be used once. All responses are completely confidential — no personal identifiers such as phone numbers or email addresses will be linked to individual answers.

    The survey is being administered on behalf of the DOH by Professional Data Analysts. For questions or more information, email [email protected].

    # # #

    Media Contacts:

    Gail Ogawa

    Program Specialist

    Hawaiʻi State Department of Health

    Office: 808-586-4526

    Email: [email protected]

    Kristen Wong

    Information Specialist

    Hawaiʻi State Department of Health

    Mobile: 808-953-9616

    Email: [email protected]

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Proposal to expand green space in Seville’s historic centre by the Pulmón Verde association – P-001376/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001376/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lina Gálvez (S&D)

    The Pulmón Verde (‘Green Lung’) association, with the backing of fifty other collectives and groups, is demanding that the site located between Calle Arrayán and Calle Divina Pastora be transformed into a new green space in the centre of Seville. This demand is at odds with Seville City Council’s intention to put the space up for sale without a clearly defined project addressing the stated demand.

    Creating more green spaces is key to protecting people’s health against the effects of climate change, as they help to reduce heat – which is linked to increased summer mortality – and to mitigate respiratory diseases. A study carried out by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health estimates that 74 % of Seville’s residents live in areas with a lower density of vegetation than recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    Bearing in mind that Articles 8 and 13 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 establish the goal of planting at least 3 billion additional trees by 2030:

    In the Commission’s view, should Seville City Council join this common cause, which would decrease ambient temperatures and benefit people’s health and wellbeing, particularly for those living in urban areas?

    Submitted: 3.4.2025

    Last updated: 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African region’s maternal and newborn mortality declining, but progress still slow

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), April 8, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African region has made progress in lowering maternal mortality since 2000 but needs a 12-fold increase in the annual reduction rate to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, new estimates by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Interagency Group show.

    Despite a 40% decline in maternal mortality, from 727 to 442 deaths per 100 000 live births between 2000 and 2023, the region still accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths. Each year, an estimated 178 000 mothers and 1 million newborns die in the Africa region – many from preventable causes.

    At the current annual reduction rate of 2.2% between 2000 and 2023, the region is projected to have nearly 350 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, five times higher than the SDG target of fewer than 70 deaths.

    Likewise, although stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates have declined by 30% and 33% respectively between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 47% of stillbirths and 46% of global newborn deaths. The region is projected to record neonatal mortality rate of about twice the SDG target of at least as low as 12 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030. 

    This year’s World Health Day, marked under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” calls on governments, donors and communities to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and to prioritize the longer-term health and well-being of women and children.

    “In too many places, pregnancy and childbirth are still life-threatening events,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa. “But it doesn’t have to be this way. Every dollar invested in maternal and newborn health delivers major returns: healthier families, stronger societies and sustainable economic growth.”

    Key barriers to progress include inadequate financing, weak governance, health workforce shortages and recurring shocks, such as disease outbreaks and conflicts, all of which disrupt maternal and child health services. In fragile and crisis-affected settings, women and children are particularly at risk.

    Leading causes of maternal deaths in the region include haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, unsafe abortion and obstructed labour, all conditions that are largely preventable or treatable with access to timely, quality care. Among newborns, preterm births, complications during childbirth, sepsis and neonatal infections, as well as congenital anomalies are the common causes of deaths.

    WHO is supporting countries across the region in implementing a wide range of interventions. These include developing and rolling out maternal and newborn health acceleration plans and implementing antenatal and postnatal care guidelines.

    Other priorities include increasing access to skilled health personnel at birth and emergency obstetric care, expanding special care for small and sick newborns, and tackling the social and economic drivers of health inequities.

    More than 60% of countries in the African region now report that over 80% of births are attended by skilled health personnel, a significant improvement from just 28% in 2010. However, progress varies across the region, with rural and crisis-affected areas continuing to face acute service shortage gaps.

    World Health Day 2025 marks the launch of a year-long campaign to drive investment and momentum in maternal and newborn health. Through stronger partnerships, accountability and bold leadership, WHO and partners aim to build a future in which no woman dies while giving life, and every child gets the chance to grow and thrive.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two-year pay offer to Agenda for Change staff

    Source: Scottish Government

    8% pay increase for nurses, midwives and NHS workers in 2025-26 and 2026-27.

    Nurses, midwives and other healthcare staff across Scotland have been offered a pay increase of 8% over two years to ensure they continue to be the best paid in the UK, Health Secretary Neil Gray has announced.

    The offer guarantees the pay increase will be one percentage point above inflation over same period.

    If accepted by trade unions, it will see pay raises of 4.25% in 2025-26 and 3.75% in 2026-27. It involves an investment of more than £700 million over the two-year period and will ensure almost 170,000 NHS Agenda for Change staff – including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters and others – benefit from the pay rise which will be backdated to 1 April 2025.

    Health Secretary Neil Gray said:

    “This is a strong two-year pay offer that has been agreed following constructive engagement with trade union representatives. It is guaranteed to remain above CPI inflation, which gives added reassurance to staff, and will ensure Scotland’s nurses, midwives and NHS staff have the best pay in the UK.

    “This comes on the back of increased employer national insurance contributions following the UK Government announcement in October 2024. It directly increases the overall cost of pay by an estimated £191 million for Scotland’s NHS.

    “I want to express my thanks again to Scotland’s hardworking healthcare staff for their continued hard work and commitment.

    “The unions will now consult their members and I hope this offer will be accepted.”

    BACKGROUND

    A total of £701 million has been committed for Agenda for Change pay in 2025-26 and 2026-27. This equates to an uplift of 8% for all staff, 4.25% in 2025-26 and 3.75% in 2026-27.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening remarks by SCS at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Opening remarks by SCS at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting 
    Chairman,
     
         Among the matters related to the civil service in the 2025-26 Draft Estimates of Expenditure, I would like to focus my introduction on the following items.
     
         The first item is the civil service establishment. We have implemented the zero-growth policy in the civil service establishment since 2021-22 with the overall establishment controlled at a level not exceeding that as at end-March 2021, i.e. about 196 000 posts. With the concerted efforts of bureaux and departments, the civil service establishment has been reducing every year. It is anticipated that by March 31, 2026, the overall civil service establishment will have reduced to about 193 000 posts, i.e. a reduction by approximately 3 000 posts on a cumulative basis.
     
         To better utilise manpower resources, we will trim the civil service establishment further, reducing it by 2 per cent each in 2026-27 and 2027-28 basing on the establishment of the preceding financial year. By April 1, 2027, about 10 000 posts are expected to be deleted from the civil service establishment within this term of Government. The resources saved will be included in the 2 per cent savings of the recurrent expenditure of the departments concerned under the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau’s Productivity Enhancement Programme.
     
         In addition, the Government has put forward in the Budget that for 2025-26, the executive authorities, the legislature, the judiciary and members of the District Councils take a pay freeze. This applies to members of the civil service. The effective date of the civil service pay freeze is April 1, 2025.
     
         I understand recent concerns over the civil service establishment. Some people think that since the current vacancy rate stands at about 10 per cent, cutting the vacancies directly will achieve greater savings in expenditure. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the matter. The reduction in the civil service establishment proposed in the Budget aims to optimise manpower arrangements through reorganisation and reprioritisation of work while maintaining the efficiency of public services. To this end, all posts, both filled and vacant, will be reviewed to ascertain the necessity to retain them. It does not mean that we can achieve the objective simply by deleting all vacant posts. For posts that are essential to the provision of public services, such as Air Traffic Control Officers and Station Officers, we have to retain them, and recruitment will continue. For posts currently occupied, they are not immune from deletion but may be deleted after the transfer of the incumbents and redistribution of work.
     
         As a matter of fact, with the increasing workload of the Government, it requires much effort in planning for departments to cut expenditure and reduce their establishment at the same time. However, it also presents a good opportunity for them to think outside the box and adopt innovative thinking to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. The Government will continue to promote the adoption of management measures and digitalisation among departments with a view to optimising the use of civil service manpower resources and enhancing efficiency by reprioritising their work, redeploying internal resources, streamlining procedures and leveraging technology. In so doing, the leaner civil service can continue to deliver high-quality public services.
     
         The second item is about civil service training. The Civil Service College will continue to take forward various initiatives to strengthen the governance capabilities of the civil service. The relevant estimated expenditure is about $255 million in 2025-26. The College will launch the Governance Talents Development Programme as proposed in the Policy Address to nurture governance talent with a macro perspective and professional leadership ability. It will also continuously enhance the content on technology application in civil service leadership training, enabling departmental leaders to better grasp the impact of technological development on public policy formulation and implementation. This will equip them to take on leadership responsibilities, guiding their departments to leverage technology, including optimising departmental information technology systems, better utilising big data and artificial intelligence to transform public services, and arranging appropriate training for departmental staff.
     
         Regarding the medical and dental benefits for civil servants, the Government will continue to honour its contractual obligation as the employer and provide medical benefits for serving civil servants, pensioners and other eligible persons. The medical services provided by the Hospital Authority as part of the medical benefits have been included in the overall provision allocated to it. Regarding Families Clinic services and dental services provided by the Department of Health (including the pilot scheme on provision of dental scaling services via private dental organisations and the pilot scheme on receiving designated dental services at a medical institution in Shenzhen), a provision of around $1,158 million has been reserved. Also, we have reserved about $1,766 million to cover the expenditure on reimbursement of medical expenses that cannot be fully anticipated.
     
         The Civil Service Bureau will continue to implement various policies and initiatives, such as strengthening civil service training, continuing to organise the Civil Service Staff Exchange and Collaboration Programme jointly with Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond, further enhancing the civil service disciplinary mechanism, implementing the two pilot schemes on dental services for civil servants, providing childcare leave for government employees, etc.
     
         Chairman, this is the end of my introduction. I would welcome questions from Members.
    Issued at HKT 16:03

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DDWS joins hands with Ministry of Women and Child Development for Poshan Pakhwada 2025, promoting “Shuddh Jal aur Swachhta Se SwasthBachpan” campaign

    Source: Government of India

    DDWS joins hands with Ministry of Women and Child Development for Poshan Pakhwada 2025, promoting “Shuddh Jal aur Swachhta Se SwasthBachpan” campaign

    7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada from 8th to 23rd April 2025
    “Purn Poshan Ki Shuruwaat, Shuddh Jal aur Swachhta Ke Saath” will be the campaign tagline

    The campaign focusing on clean water practices and sanitation as crucial elements for a child’s nutrition and overall health

    Extensive awareness generation sessions and sensitisation activities to be carried out by States/ UTs

    Posted On: 08 APR 2025 2:57PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under Ministry of Jal Shakti, is actively participating in the 7thedition of Poshan Pakhwada from 8thto 23rdApril 2025. Aligning with the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Saksham Anganwadi scheme, the department’s campaign is themed “Shuddh Jal aur Swachhta Se SwasthBachpan” (Clean Water and Sanitation for Healthy Childhood), with a tagline “Purn Poshan Ki Shuruwaat, Shuddh Jal aur Swachhta Ke Saath” focusing specifically on clean water practices and sanitation as crucial elements for a child’s nutrition and overall health.

    Poshan Pakhwada aims to combat malnutrition through behaviour changes at individual, family, and community levels, highlighting four key areas:

    • Emphasis on the first 1000 days of human life
    • Popularization of the Beneficiary Module in the Poshan Tracker App
    • Effective management of malnutrition through the CMAM module
    • Promotion of healthy lifestyles to address childhood obesity

    States/ UTs will conduct extensive community-level activities to underline the critical role of safe drinking water and sanitation practices in preventing malnutrition and diseases.

     Planned activities include:

    • Shuddh Jal and Swachhta Drive: Conducting community sessions on safe drinking water, sanitation practices, hand hygiene, composting, and waste management.
    • Capacity Building for Anganwadi Workers: Sensitization sessions and training on safe water consumption and good sanitation practices to aid in better counselling for mothers.
    • Awareness Generation for Lactating Mothers: IEC activities by Anganwadi and ASHA workers on safe drinking water and sanitation to enhance community health.
    • Smart Poshan Anganwadi Certification: Recognizing top-performing Anganwadi Centers for maintaining high hygiene and nutrition standards.
    • Swachh Jal, Sundar Aangan Initiative: Improving sanitation facilities at Anganwadi centers with community and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) involvement, including murals and child-friendly water stations.
    • Awareness Rallies: Community mobilization focusing on preventing waterborne diseases through proper sanitation and hygiene.

    Department will also complement the efforts of WCD by promoting the campaign over social media platforms which is an integral part of the campaign, utilizing hashtags #DDWSJoinsPoshanPakhwada and #PoshanPakhwada to maximize outreach and impact.

    Through these collective efforts, including WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) initiatives, the Jal Jeevan Mission, and the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen, Poshan Pakhwada aims to create enduring awareness and drive substantial behavioral change in rural communities, enabling improved health, sanitation, and nutrition for every child in India.

    To know more about the mission, click: https://www.jalshakti-ddws.gov.in/

    ***

    Dhanya Sanal K

    (Release ID: 2120021) Visitor Counter : 43

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to a case of Clade Ib mpox in an individual in the UK with no known travel history or links to previously confirmed cases

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on a case of Clade 1b Mpox in an individual with no links to other cases, as confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

    Dr Jonas Albarnaz, Institute Fellow, Capripoxvirus Biology, The Pirbright Institute, said:

    “Mpox presents as a skin rash with lesions (blisters) in any part of the body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, mouth, genitals, and anus. Mpox rash can be confused with chickenpox. The mode of transmission of mpox is via close contact, and sustained human-to-human transmission has driven the current outbreak of clade 1b mpox in DRC and other countries in Central Africa, as well as the cases imported into countries outside Africa. So far, the clade 1b cases in the UK have been in individuals with recent travel history to Africa and their household contacts. The detection of a clade 1b case in a person without travel history or contact with the other clade 1b cases is surprising. Public health authorities should investigate how this recent case was acquired, but it’s likely that it was acquired from another infected person, via direct contact either with skin lesions or with contaminated surfaces or objects.

    “Transmission of mpox from an asymptomatic person has been reported, but there’s limited information about the role of asymptomatic transmission in driving mpox outbreaks. Zoonotic transmission (animal to human) of mpox also occurs in endemic countries in Africa, but this is an extremely unlikely scenario given the absence of an animal reservoir in the UK.

    “Vaccination remains the best strategy to prevent mpox and is recommended to individuals at higher risk of infection, which include contacts of mpox cases, healthcare workers, and people with multiple sexual partners. Two vaccines are approved against mpox: MVA-BN and LC16. These vaccines are based on weakened versions of a related orthopoxvirus (vaccinia) and were developed against smallpox. However, availability of these vaccines is very limited globally, representing a major bottleneck for the control strategies. It’s up to health authorities to decide on the most efficient strategy to deploy the available vaccine stocks. Ring vaccination, vaccination of close contacts of an infected person, is a common strategy to stop the chain of transmission of the pathogen infection.”

    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-detects-first-case-of-clade-ib-mpox

    Declared interests

    Dr Jonas Albarnaz “No conflicts of interest to declare”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Career change leads to valedictorian honour for EIT nursing graduate | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    49 seconds ago

    More than a decade after first studying at EIT Hawke’s Bay, Kayla Hughes will return to the graduation stage, this time as a Bachelor of Nursing graduate and one of two valedictorians.

    Kayla will deliver her valedictory speech at one of two graduation ceremonies for EIT Hawke’s Bay at the Napier Municipal Theatre on Friday, April 11.

    Being selected as valedictorian came as a pleasant surprise.

    “I felt very honoured to have even been considered. You put a lot of hard work into your degree, so to be acknowledged just through a nomination was nice.”

    Having originally completed a Diploma in Cookery at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale in 2013, Kayla spent several years overseas in various kitchens.

    It was during her time working for a healthcare software company in the UK that she realised her passion lay in directly caring for others.

    This prompted her decision to pursue nursing upon returning home in 2020.

    “I’ve always been the person in my family who helps when someone’s sick,” Kayla says. “Pursuing nursing felt like the natural next step.”

    At 31, Kayla found her transition back to tertiary study supported by EIT’s introductory NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Hauora) programme. Throughout her Bachelor of Nursing, Kayla found strong support networks, both among lecturers and her fellow students, crucial to her success.

    “We had a very supportive cohort,” she says. “The connections we made helped us get through tough times, particularly during Cyclone Gabrielle, when studying became especially challenging.”

    Now employed in the Acute Assessment Unit at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, Kayla is thriving in the fast-paced environment and says she enjoys the dynamic nature of acute care nursing.

    Kayla will celebrate her achievement with family and friends at the graduation ceremony. “I’m proud to represent the Bachelor of Nursing and excited for what’s ahead,” she says.

    Katie Rongonui, Assistant Head of School, School of Nursing, said: “Kayla has not only achieved academic excellence during her time in the Bachelor of Nursing, she has inspired and encouraged others in her journey to becoming a registered nurse with her positive outlook and determination”.

    “Kayla’s outstanding achievements and attributes will no doubt carry her into a successful career in nursing, providing excellence in the delivery of care for patients and their whānau.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai receives credentials from new Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-03-28
    President Lai meets British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones
    On the afternoon of March 28, President Lai Ching-te met with British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones. In remarks, President Lai welcomed Representative Bradley-Jones as she takes up her post in Taiwan, and thanked the United Kingdom government and parliament for demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. The president indicated that Taiwan and the UK enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well, with great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. He stated that he looks forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to meet Representative Bradley-Jones here at the Presidential Office for this exchange. I understand that she has proactively called at many government agencies since taking up her post last month. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome. Taiwan and the UK are partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. In recent years, our bilateral relations have continued to deepen. With the efforts of Representative Bradley-Jones and our respective governments, I look forward to the expansion of dialogue and cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. This will further elevate our bilateral ties. Especially in the face of expanding authoritarianism, the UK is not only playing an important role in crafting a unified European response; it is also demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan through various channels. For example, joint statements released after the Australia-UK ministerial consultations, as well as the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, underlined a high level of concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The UK government has publicly expressed support for Taiwan’s international participation on multiple occasions. And last November, the UK House of Commons passed a motion clearly asserting that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. These actions attest to the UK’s belief in supporting democracy and peace, and have further solidified our countries’ friendship. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to the UK government and parliament.  Currently, the UK is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe and second largest source of investment from Europe. We enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well. There is also great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. We look forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience. We also hope the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that together, we can work with more like-minded partners, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. Once again, I welcome Representative Bradley-Jones to Taiwan and wish her all the best with her work. I anticipate that Taiwan-UK relations will continue to steadily advance through our joint efforts. Representative Bradley-Jones then delivered remarks, first saying in Mandarin that she is honored to meet with President Lai to discuss topics of mutual concern and jointly deepen Taiwan-UK relations, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. She went on to say that she came to Taiwan last August to study Mandarin, and began her post as British Office Taipei representative in February this year, noting that every day she learns more about and gains a deeper understanding of Taiwan. Last year, she said, she visited Tainan and Wanli, and found Tainan’s wetlands and the scenery in Wanli very impressive. She added that she has also tried many different Taiwanese foods, and is looking forward to experiencing even more of Taiwan’s local culture and customs over the next four years. Continuing her remarks in English, Representative Bradley-Jones stated that since taking up her post, she has borne witness to the strength of the relationship between Taiwan and the UK and the potential for it to continue to grow. She said that on trade and investment, there is significant complementarity between Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s Industrial Strategy, particularly in areas such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Both governments are also together supporting Taiwan and UK businesses through our Enhanced Trade Partnership and annual trade talks, she said. Representative Bradley-Jones went on to say that on science and technology, Taiwan and the UK can and should do more together. She noted that the UK has the third largest tech sector in the world and is valued at over US$1.1 trillion, while Taiwan is the center of the semiconductor and AI hardware world. Given our complementary strengths, especially in areas such as semiconductors, space, and communications technology, she said, the UK has stepped up its level of activity in Taiwan, including by regularly hosting a UK Pavilion at SEMICON and funding 18 joint R&D programs through our new collaborative R&D fund, and looks forward to doing more together in the future.  In support of Taiwan’s whole-of-society resilience, the representative said, the UK is supporting valuable exchanges, co-hosting GCTF (Global Cooperation and Training Framework) workshops, sharing lessons on financial sector resilience, and reaching out to mayors and community leaders across Taiwan. From financial resilience to cyber resilience, she said, the UK’s public sector and private industries have plenty to share and learn. Representative Bradley-Jones stated that on people-to-people links, parliamentarians, civil society, and academics are continuing to deepen contact, and that she is particularly excited by a new smart parliament partnership agreed upon by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the UK’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which aims to facilitate cross-party, cross-society, and cross-border exchanges on issues such as democratic governance, AI, inclusive policy-making, and public safety. The representative indicated that the examples she mentioned just scratch the surface of the full potential of the Taiwan-UK relationship. She said that the UK’s longstanding policy remains unchanged, and fundamentally, that is because we share a common set of values and interests. We are together focused on how to make our societies safer and more prosperous tomorrow than they are today, she said, and as like-minded democracies, innovative economies, and practical partners, the sincere and pragmatic cooperation between Taiwan and the UK is bringing material benefits to the prosperity and well-being of our people every day. 

    Details
    2025-03-21
    President Lai meets Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
    On the morning of March 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. In remarks, President Lai said that Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan, and that we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Alaska will have more frequent engagement and exchanges so that our relations can continue to grow to create prosperous development for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to our guests. This is Governor Dunleavy’s first visit to Taiwan, and last night, we both attended the Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet with Governor Dunleavy today at the Presidential Office for further dialogue. Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan. Our sister-state relationship was established in 1988, and we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. Currently, Taiwan is Alaska’s eighth largest export market and ninth largest source of imports. This goes to show just how close our trade and economic ties are and how much potential there is for further growth. As I said in my remarks at last night’s Hsieh Nien Fan banquet, Taiwan is interested in buying Alaskan natural gas. I am sure that Governor Dunleavy’s visit will help us explore even more opportunities for cooperation and continue to deepen Taiwan-United States relations. In the face of such challenges as expanding authoritarianism, climate change, and pandemics, we look forward to strengthening collaboration between Taiwan and the US. By drawing on our strengths, we can jointly build non-red supply chains to bolster our economic resilience and drive the advancement of global technology. I want to thank the US government for reiterating the importance it attaches to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and its opposition to any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. These statements backing Taiwan help in maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. Once again, I thank Governor Dunleavy for traveling such a long way to Taiwan. We hope to see more frequent engagement and exchanges between Taiwan and Alaska so that our relations can continue to grow, and we can create prosperous development for both sides. Governor Dunleavy then delivered remarks, saying that their trip to visit friends in Taiwan has been fantastic, thanking President Lai for the invitation to meet, and thanking all the staff. Governor Dunleavy said that as the pandemic was raging, the world went from “before COVID” to “after COVID.” Before COVID, he said, the world relied on a number of systems that were in place for decades after World War II involving supply chains, alliances, sources of energy, trading partners, and friends. He went on to say that as we go beyond COVID, we are reestablishing and reevaluating who our friends are, where we are going to get our energy, and who our trading partners are going to be. The governor said that we are creating a new world for the next 50 years with the new administration in Washington, and this is an opportunity for us to reevaluate and reinvest with our friends for the next 50 years in each other, our futures, and our security. Governor Dunleavy stated that one thing is for certain: that Taiwan is a friend of the US and a friend of Alaska, and has been for many, many decades. He said that it is their hope in this trip and subsequent trips to establish an even tighter bond among their friends in Taiwan, the US, and Alaska. The governor also said that we have much in common in that we are members of the Pacific family, are democracies, and believe in freedom, free speech, and capitalism. He indicated that he has much optimism for the future, and that as we reestablish relationships throughout the world, energy is going to be the key and the basis for our economic development, our national security, and our friendship. Governor Dunleavy said that he believes this trip is going to lay the groundwork for a fantastic future between Taiwan, Alaska, and the US, and that with President Lai’s support as well as the support of the US administration, we can work together to build even better relationships.

    Details
    2025-03-20
    President Lai attends AmCham Taiwan 2025 Hsieh Nien Fan
    On the evening of March 20, President Lai Ching-te attended the annual Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan). In remarks, President Lai pointed out that the United States is now a major source of investment in Taiwan, adding that last year US investment accounted for 11.5 percent of total foreign investment in Taiwan. The president also pointed out that the US has become Taiwan’s largest investment destination, as Taiwan’s direct and indirect investment in the US accounted for more than 40 percent of its total outbound investment last year. President Lai expressed hope that AmCham will continue to offer support in quickly resolving the issue of double taxation, further enhancing the mutually beneficial Taiwan-US economic and trade partnership. He also emphasized that one essential element for our economic prosperity is maintaining security and stability, both regionally and globally. The president expressed his belief that, so long as we coordinate our efforts, we can achieve more in our respective defense industries and build non-red supply chains, advancing peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: I’m delighted to be here tonight. I want to wish everyone and their families a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead. For many years now, AmCham has acted as a bridge between Taiwan and the US. It not only advocates for Taiwan to various sectors in the US, but also offers advice for the development of Taiwan’s industries. So tonight, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our friends from the American business community. The 2025 Business Climate Survey, published by AmCham this January, demonstrates the confidence foreign businesses have in the Taiwan market. We are happy to see that over 80 percent of survey respondents reported stable or increased revenue last year, and around 80 percent expressed confidence in Taiwan’s economic prospects for the coming year. Moreover, 90 percent of businesses surveyed are planning to maintain or expand their investments in Taiwan. The positive developments in Taiwan made by our American friends here tonight, their outlook for the future, and their confidence in Taiwan, are further proof of Taiwan’s ideal environment for investment. The US is now a major source of investment in Taiwan. Last year, US investment accounted for 11.5 percent of total foreign investment in Taiwan. In 2023, Entegris opened a new manufacturing facility in Kaohsiung and Micron launched a new facility in Taichung. Last year, Google further solidified Taiwan as its biggest R&D hub outside of the US by opening a new office here. AMD, Nvidia, and major cloud computing companies from the US have also been choosing Taiwan to expand their presence. Over the past several years, the US has also become Taiwan’s largest investment destination. Taiwan’s direct and indirect investment in the US accounted for more than 40 percent of our total outbound investment last year. Four years ago, TSMC’s [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company] investment in facilities in Arizona became the biggest FDI [foreign direct investment] in a greenfield project in US history. And this month, TSMC announced it would expand that investment, breaking another record and highlighting the enduring prosperity shared by Taiwan and the US. In addition to TSMC, Taiwan’s GlobalWafers has built a 12-inch silicon wafer factory in Texas, the biggest in the US. This will be followed by many other industries. These companies are confidently expanding their global presence across the Pacific and eastward into the Americas. The US is moving to reindustrialize its manufacturing industry and consolidate high-tech leadership, as it moves to become a global AI hub. In these efforts, Taiwan is an indispensable partner for the US. While the US is a leader in chip design, Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing plays an irreplaceable part in the supply chain. Adapting to the changing geopolitical landscape and the coming era of smart technology, Taiwan will continue to promote its Five Trusted Industry Sectors of semiconductors, AI, military, next-gen communications, and security and surveillance. This will drive the next stage in our economic development. A great time to invest in Taiwan is now. We will continue to better connect relevant government agencies and align with international standards to foster a friendlier investment environment. And I am confident that Taiwanese and American companies can leverage their respective high-tech expertise and invest in each other, boosting growth in industrial innovation and development for both our economies. At the same time, we hope to continue deepening Taiwan-US trade relations. Last year, Taiwan was the seventh largest trading partner of the US, up one spot from the previous year, and bilateral trade grew by 24.2 percent. Taiwan is going to expand procurement from the US of industrial and agricultural products, as well as natural gas. I am very happy to welcome Governor [Mike] Dunleavy of Alaska, who has specially come all the way to Taiwan. Alaska is a source of high-quality natural gas, and its relatively short distance from Taiwan facilitates transportation. So we are very interested in buying Alaskan natural gas because it can meet our needs and ensure our energy security. We hope that AmCham will continue to offer support in quickly resolving the issue of double taxation and removing tax barriers to bilateral investment and trade, further enhancing the mutually beneficial Taiwan-US economic and trade partnership. One essential element for our economic prosperity is maintaining security and stability, both regionally and globally. So we are grateful for the joint leaders’ statement issued by [US] President [Donald] Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, in which they expressed their solid support for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. As we face growing authoritarianism, Taiwan will continue to uphold our values of freedom and democracy and will be a responsible actor in regional and global security. Currently, Taiwan’s defense budget stands at about 2.5 percent of GDP. Going forward, the government will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. At the same time, we will continue to reform national defense, further enhancing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. And we will advance our cooperation with the US and other democracies in upholding regional stability and prosperity. We also welcome continued Taiwan-US cooperation in the defense sector. I believe that, so long as we coordinate our efforts, we can achieve more in our respective defense industries and build non-red supply chains, advancing peace, stability, and prosperity. In closing, I look forward to seeing even greater achievements from Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation. Thank you. After remarks, President Lai, AmCham Chairperson Dan Silver, American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene, and Governor Dunleavy raised their glasses in recognition of the strong Taiwan-US friendship.  

    Details
    2025-03-18
    President Lai meets Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs  
    On the afternoon of March 18, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. In remarks, President Lai said that Taiwan and Arizona enjoy close economic and trade relations, and expressed hope that through our joint efforts, Arizona will become a shining example for Taiwan-United States high-tech collaboration and the creation of non-red supply chains. The president indicated that the next goal for Taiwan and the US is the signing of an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation, which would provide greater incentives for Taiwanese businesses to invest in the US, facilitate the establishment of more comprehensive industry clusters, and generate more job opportunities, representing a win-win outcome for Taiwan-US relations. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome you all to the Presidential Office. Governor Hobbs previously visited Taiwan after taking office in 2023. Her leading a delegation to Taiwan once again demonstrates Arizona’s continued friendship and the importance Arizona attaches to Taiwan. For this, I express my sincerest gratitude, and I welcome you again. In recent years, ties between Taiwan and Arizona have continued to expand and progress. For example, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)’s investment in Arizona is the largest greenfield investment in US history. This month, TSMC announced that it would increase its investment in the US by US$100 billion. It plans to build more semiconductor fabrication and research and development facilities in greater Phoenix, transforming the area into a US semiconductor hub. Due to our close industrial engagement, we now have more than 30,000 Taiwanese living in Arizona. I would like to thank Governor Hobbs for taking care of Taiwanese businesses and people. I believe that through our joint efforts, Arizona will become a shining example for Taiwan-US high-tech collaboration and the creation of non-red supply chains. Taiwan and Arizona also enjoy close economic and trade relations. Taiwan is Arizona’s eighth largest export market and fifth largest source of imports. Last December, the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade officially came into effect. I believe this will help further deepen our trade and economic ties. At present, the next goal for Taiwan and the US is the signing of an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. I hope that we can work together to achieve this goal as soon as possible. This would provide greater incentives for Taiwanese businesses to invest in the US, facilitate the establishment of more comprehensive local industry clusters, and generate more job opportunities, representing a win-win outcome. With Governor Hobbs’s support, we look forward to continuing to advance Taiwan-US relations and promoting further cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Arizona across all domains. I understand that during this visit, you have visited many important companies and exchanged opinions with government agencies on how to strengthen bilateral relations. These efforts all go toward building an even more solid foundation for future Taiwan-US cooperation. Once again, I thank you all for supporting Taiwan and welcome you to visit us often in the future. Governor Hobbs then delivered remarks, stating that under President Lai’s leadership, Taiwan continues to thrive as a global hub for technology, innovation, and advanced manufacturing. She said that she is proud to be back in Taiwan alongside her secretary of commerce, Sandra Watson, as part of a diplomatic and economic delegation from Arizona. Since arriving, she said, they’ve hit the ground running, meeting with key partners, businesses, and leaders, noting that the takeaway from their meetings has been incredibly positive, and that they underscore the strong and enduring partnership between Arizona and Taiwan. Adding that our partnership that is built on shared values, mutual cultural appreciation, and commitment to innovation and economic growth, Governor Hobbs indicated that Arizona and Taiwan’s partnership extends back decades, as Taiwanese fighter pilots have been training at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix since 1996. She said that we have built a strong base of collaboration across many areas, including technology, workforce, and cultural exchange, and that Arizona is even slated to get its own Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐), which she expressed she is very thrilled about. Governor Hobbs went on to say that Arizona’s relationship with Taiwan is anchored by its ongoing partnership with TSMC and many Taiwan-based companies in semiconductor and other industries, and that TSMC’s US$165 billion investment in Arizona will help power development of the world’s most advanced technology, such as AI, and promises to cement an unbreakable bond between our two economies.  She stated that as governor, she can say with confidence that her administration is fully committed to strengthening this relationship in every way possible, because when Arizona and Taiwan succeed, we all succeed. Lastly, Governor Hobbs once again expressed gratitude to President Lai and the people of Taiwan for their warm hospitality. She then invited President Lai to Arizona to continue their productive conversations and further strengthen ties between our people and our economies, adding that she knows there is no limit to what we can achieve together, and that she is looking forward to what is to come. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

    Details
    2025-03-18
    President Lai meets 2025 Yushan Forum participants
    On the afternoon of March 18, President Lai Ching-te met with participants in the 2025 Yushan Forum. In remarks, President Lai thanked the guests for gathering here in Taiwan and discussing ways to enhance regional cooperation, demonstrating that our democratic allies and friends are standing together as we take on the challenges of a new world and a new era. The president reiterated that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, and we welcome the world to come closer to Taiwan. He stated that Taiwan will continue to work with international partners to deepen cooperation, exchanges, and partnership in various domains and resist the expansion of authoritarianism. Together, the president emphasized, we can pursue regional peace and security and realize a new vision for a free and open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I would like to begin by thanking Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark and chairman of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, for inviting then-President Tsai Ing-wen to address the Copenhagen Democracy Summit via video over five consecutive years since 2020, and for inviting myself to give remarks via video last year. Those opportunities allowed Taiwan to share with the world our motivation for, and our work toward, safeguarding freedom and democracy. I would also like to thank Mr. Janez Janša, former prime minister of the Republic of Slovenia, who has visited Taiwan many times already, for actively elevating the cordial ties between Taiwan and Slovenia during his term as prime minister, helping expand friendship for Taiwan throughout Europe. Today’s guests have traveled a long way to show their strong backing for Taiwan. For this, I express my deepest gratitude. Yesterday was my first time attending the Yushan Forum as president. I saw political leaders and representatives gather here in Taiwan and discuss ways to enhance regional cooperation. The event demonstrated that our democratic allies and friends are standing together as we take on the challenges of a new world and a new era. It was truly moving. As I stated at the opening ceremony, Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, and we welcome the world to come closer to Taiwan. Our government will help guide Taiwanese small- and medium-sized enterprises as they expand into the international market and extend Taiwan’s economic power. I hope that during this visit, our guests will be able to explore more opportunities for cooperation in such fields as AI, smart healthcare, and advanced technologies, and join hands in contributing to the prosperity and development of our democratic allies and friends. Taiwan will continue to work with international partners, building upon the shared values of freedom and democracy, to deepen cooperation, exchanges, and partnership in various domains and resist the expansion of authoritarianism. Together, we can pursue regional peace and security and realize a new vision for a free and open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. And I hope, with the assistance of our guests here today, that we can further strengthen the ties between Taiwan and Europe so that we can all take up the work of maintaining global peace and stability. Once again, I welcome our guests to Taiwan. I look forward to hearing your thoughts in a few moments. I also hope you will visit Taiwan often in the future and continue to experience our vibrant democratic society and culture. Chairman Rasmussen then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great pleasure to be back here in Taipei after meeting with President Lai in 2023. He then thanked President Lai for the Taiwanese hospitality on behalf of the Yushan Forum international visitors and participants, who represent four continents and very different political parties but who are united by one thing – the commitment to democracy. Chairman Rasmussen mentioned that over the past few days, they have met with members of the government, legislature, and civil society in Taiwan. He said that he is more convinced than ever that in a very uncertain world, Taiwan continues to stand as a beacon of democracy, from which people in Europe and in the rest of the world have a lot to learn. Over the past eight years, he has been proud to step up his engagement with Taiwan, he said, as he has always subscribed to the view that freedom must advance everywhere, or else it is in decline everywhere. Chairman Rasmussen noted that they have many interests in making sure Taiwan remains free and that we must always stand up for freedom when it is under assault by a dictator. This is why Ukraine’s fight is also everyone’s fight, he explained. He then praised Taiwan for all of the support it has given to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and honored the two Taiwanese volunteer soldiers who gave their lives for freedom in Ukraine. Chairman Rasmussen remarked that Taiwan is a strong feature of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that he convenes each year. His foundation, the Alliance of Democracies, has even been sanctioned by the Chinese government due to its support of Taiwan, he said, which is something he takes as a badge of honor. He added that this year’s Copenhagen Democracy Summit in May will be no different, as they plan to focus on the new world order, urgent measures to strengthen Europe’s military, and the situation in Ukraine. But as the United States pulls back from the transatlantic alliance and Europe focuses more on its own defense, he said, Europe should not retreat from the world. He added that to ensure European security, we need more Europe in the Indo-Pacific, and that is why he has been making the argument for more political and economic cooperation with Taiwan. Chairman Rasmussen praised President Lai’s recent decision to increase Taiwan’s national defense budget to more than 3 percent of GDP, adding that it is important that each nation does what it can for its own defense. The chairman once again thanked President Lai for meeting with them today and for the opportunity to visit Taiwan, a beacon of democracy and liberty in Asia. Also in attendance at the meeting were Chairman of the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Pavel Fischer; Member of the National Security Advisory Board to India’s National Security Council Anshuman Tripathi; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Anna Fotyga; former Minister of Health of Canada Tony Clement; and former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and current Secretary General of the Polish-based Community of Democracies Mantas Adomėnas.

    Details
    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –