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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme expands to cover blood lipid testing and District Health Centres enhance allied health services

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme expands to cover blood lipid testing and District Health Centres enhance allied health services 
    Expansion of CDCC Pilot Scheme screening service scope to blood lipid testing
     
         The Government launched the CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023 to subsidise eligible participants through pairing with a family doctor of their choice to undergo diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) screening, as well as attending doctor consultation and receiving laboratory services in the private healthcare sector on a co-payment basis, with a view to achieving “early prevention, early identification and early treatment”. Starting from March 28, the scope of screening under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be expanded to include blood lipid testing in addition to DM and HT screening to achieve full coverage of the “three highs”, with a view to implementing the policy initiative as set out in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, allowing more citizens to comprehensively assess and manage their cardiovascular disease risk factors through the Scheme.
     
         The eligibility criteria for the CDCC Pilot Scheme will remain unchanged (i.e. Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT). The Government subsidies for consultation visits, and the co-payment amount to be paid by the participants will remain at the current level. If participants are diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia, they are entitled to a maximum of four subsidised consultation visits in the first year, and a maximum of two subsidised consultation visits annually from the second year onwards. If they are also diagnosed with prediabetes or suffering from DM or HT, they are entitled to a maximum of four or six subsidised consultation visits per year respectively. The arrangements for subsidised consultation visits will be similar to the current arrangement. Healthcare professionals will also arrange for the participants to receive dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the district health network according to their clinical conditions and needs.
     
         The basic-tier drug list of the CDCC Pilot Scheme covers basic drugs for treating chronic diseases (including anti-diabetic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs and lipid-regulating drugs) as well as episodic illnesses. Participants prescribed with drugs on the list will not be required to pay for such medication. Participants who are confirmed with no sign of DM, HT or hyperlipidaemia upon screening can receive follow-up and assistance in setting health management goals from the DHC/DHCEs, and will be arranged to participate in activities to promote healthy lifestyles according to their health needs to maintain good health.
     
         The Government has announced earlier 
         In addition, starting from April 15, podiatry services of the dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be enhanced. Podiatrists will conduct foot assessments for participants with DM and/or HT and provide treatment plans on problems such as foot ulcers, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy or foot deformities.
     
    Expansion of dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services to DHC/DHCE members
     
         Following the     provision of dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services for participants in the CDCC Pilot Scheme 
         The dedicated nurse clinics will provide initial assessments on osteoarthritis of knee and back pain, basic self-management and dietary advice and counselling, muscle and joint function assessments, as well as checking of common women’s health issues to members in need. Occupational therapists will provide assessment of capabilities in daily life and personalised functional therapy activities for patients with knee osteoarthritis, back pain and stroke, as well as advising patients and their carers on assistive devices and home environment improvements to reduce fall risks and enhance their self-management and self-care ability in daily life. Chinese medicine practitioners will provide acupuncture and acupressure treatment for patients. Physiotherapists will provide clinical consultations and appropriate intervention treatments including pain relief modality, electrotherapy and manual therapy for complex cases (such as individuals suffering from both overweight and joint pain). Speech therapists will provide assessment and training to patients with difficulties in swallowing, speaking or communication due to stroke, and provide advice on feeding and dietary improvement to the patients suffering from stroke or their carers. Dietitians will design personalised meal plans and provide targeted nutritional guidance to participants. The addresses and service hours of relevant service points will be uploaded to the DHC website (    www.dhc.gov.hk/en/healthcare_service_providers.html  
         The co-payment model will be adopted for DHC/DHCE members receiving dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services. Eligible individuals will receive partial subsidies from the Government and pay a designated co-payment fee for services. The co-payment fee for DHC/DHCE members and CDCC Pilot Scheme participants receiving dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services are set out in the Annex.
     
         The CDCC Pilot Scheme has received a positive response since its launch, and over 100 000 participants have joined the programme to date. As at March 12 this year (provisional figures), about 62 700 participants have completed screenings, of which around 24 200 (nearly 40 per cent) have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT and have entered the treatment phase. The Government will continue to promote the CDCC Pilot Scheme to encourage citizens to prevent and manage chronic diseases proactively, thereby enhancing the overall health of the general public.
    Issued at HKT 12:22

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AFMS and NIMHANS, Bengaluru Ink MoU for Collaborative Research & Training

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 9:18AM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant step towards improving the mental well-being of the nation’s defense personnel, the Armed Forces Medical Services and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for collaborative research and training aimed at enhancing mental health support and care for the Armed Forces.

    The MoU was signed by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services and Dr Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS in a ceremony attended by senior officials from both institutions. The collaboration between AFMS and NIMHANS will focus on strengthening mental health services, conducting specialized training for medical personnel, and developing innovative programs to address the mental health issues faced by Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, their families and dependants.

    The key objectives of the MoU include collaborative research, faculty exchange and academic activities. NIMHANS, with its expertise in Neuropsychiatry, will provide help in conducting research on advanced Psychiatric care and support to military personnel, addressing common issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), Anxiety, and Depression.

    Surg VAdm Arti Sarin, in a statement said that the mental health of our soldiers is as important as their physical health. This partnership with NIMHANS will ensure that our personnel receive the best possible support to cope with the challenges they face while serving our country.

    Dr Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS, stated that it is an honor to collaborate with the Armed Forces Medical Services to bring the Institute’s expertise in mental health care to the defence sector. The aim will be to provide world-class support to those who serve our nation, ensuring they receive the mental health care they deserve.

    This collaborative venture is a critical step in recognizing the importance of mental health for Armed Forces personnel and is expected to set a benchmark for similar initiatives across the country. Both organizations are committed to providing comprehensive mental health services that contribute to the overall welfare of the Armed Forces.

    VK/SR/Anand

    (Release ID: 2113122) Visitor Counter : 55

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Department for Business and Trade welcomes Ghanaian Healthcare Delegation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Department for Business and Trade welcomes Ghanaian Healthcare Delegation

    Fifteen organisations from Ghana’s healthcare sector will be participating in a UK roadshow from 17-21 March 2025.

    The UK’s Department for Business and Trade has today welcomed a delegation of 15 organisations from Ghana’s healthcare sector for a four-city roadshow aimed at strengthening trade partnerships and development opportunities.

    The delegation, visiting the UK from 17-21 March 2025, includes representatives from the Ghanaian government, private health facilities, pharmaceutical and medical equipment distributors, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

    The visit will strengthen the existing healthcare collaboration between the UK and Ghana, which already spans research and training, knowledge and expertise transfer, investment, and healthcare systems strengthening.

    His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa, John Humphrey, who is leading the UK delegation, said:

    The UK is committed to strengthening its economic ties with Africa, and Ghana is a key partner in this effort as we partner together to unlock growth, jobs, trade, investment, and opportunities in our economies.

    The UK is committed to strengthening its economic ties with Africa, and Ghana is a key partner in this effort as we partner together to unlock growth, jobs, trade, investment, and opportunities in our economies.

    The roadshow begins in London before continuing to Birmingham, Leeds, and Cardiff. Throughout the tour, Ghanaian delegates will meet with UK companies offering solutions and expertise that match Ghana’s healthcare needs. This initiative aligns with the UK’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with African nations and building capacity to address issues around supply chain disruption over the past years. By working together – we can get ahead of global shocks, mitigate their impact, and unlock new opportunities for growth between our two countries.

    British High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Harriet Thompson said:

    The UK and Ghana have enjoyed a long and consistent partnership on healthcare, enhancing the health services available to citizens as well as supporting opportunities for both British and Ghanaian businesses. This roadshow is an opportunity to deepen that partnership, harnessing our nations’ collective expertise, innovation, experience and dynamism. I am confident that the visit will foster productive connections, paving the way for growth and prosperity between Ghana and the UK.

    This visit presents a valuable opportunity for UK businesses to explore Ghana’s growing healthcare market, while enabling Ghana to access the UK’s expertise, products, and services in the sector.

    The Department for Business and Trade looks forward to productive engagement between the delegations, leading to increased trade and collaboration in healthcare.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Report reveals young people nearly fives time more likely to be put out of work

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New Report reveals young people nearly fives time more likely to be put out of work

    New Keep Britain Working Review report reveals an increase of 1.2 million young people with work limiting health conditions 

    • Nearly 1 in 4 people out of work due to ill health are under 35 – underlining the need for government’s employment and welfare reforms 
    • Government to consider independent recommendations on partnering with employers to keep young people in work  
    • Follows sweeping package of welfare to reforms to unlock work and boost living standards as part of the government’s Plan for Change 

    Young people with mental health conditions are nearly five times more likely to be economically inactive compared to others in their age group, according to new analysis published today [Thursday 20 March] by the Keep Britain Working Review.    

    Statistics in the report also show around a quarter of those who are economically inactive due to ill-health are under the age of 35 – illustrating how early barriers are impacting many of those who may be beginning their work journey or developing. 

    The findings are part of the review’s Discovery Phase report, as former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield examines the factors behind spiralling levels of inactivity, and how government and businesses can work together to tackle the issue.  

    The Keep Britain Working Review was announced as part of the Get Britain Working White Paper which set out the biggest employment reforms for a generation to get Britain working and unlock growth as part of the plan for change. It also includes plans for overhauling job centres, empowering mayors and local areas to tackle inactivity, and delivering a Youth Guarantee so all young people are either earning or learning  

    Today’s report sets out the economic inactivity challenges facing the UK and how this compares to other countries. It finds that:  

    • There are 8.7 million people in the UK with a work-limiting health condition, up by 2.5 million (41 per cent) over the last decade, including 1.2 million 16 to 34-year-olds and 900,000 50 to 64-year-olds   

    • These figures show young people (16 to 34-year-olds) with mental health conditions are 4.7 times more likely to be economically inactive than their cohort   

    • Those who are out of work for less than a year are five times more likely to return to work compared to those who are out of work longer  

    The report also highlights the potential economic benefit of better prevention, retention and rapid rehabilitation: it finds that tackling sickness absence and ill-health related economic inactivity through these measures could be worth £150 billion a year to the economy.  

    Chair of the independent review, Sir Charlie Mayfield, said:       

    Our initial report published today confirms the scale of rising economic inactivity and what’s driving it. It underlines the urgency that we tackle this challenge by improving prevention and retention of those in work and by creating better pathways back into work for those who are economically inactive.   

    It’s a problem that can and must be addressed by government and employers together. Even at this initial stage of the review, we have found inspiring examples of employers making a difference that’s literally life changing for some people. We need more of these on a greater scale and, in the next stages of the review, we will be engaging with many organisations to establish how that can be achieved.  

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, said:   

    We must do far more to help people stay in work and get back quickly if they fall out. That’s why, as part of the reforms in our Pathways to Work Green Paper and our Plan for Change, we are making a decisive shift towards prevention and early intervention.  

    We want to help more employers to offer opportunities for disabled people, including through measures such as reasonable adjustments, and we are consulting on reforming Access to Work so it is fit for the future.  

    I want to thank Sir Charlie for this report. It shows the potential for what government and employers can do together to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces, so we build on the great work some businesses are already doing. 

    Separate research also suggests that if the UK could reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training by a third, to match Germany’s rate, UK GDP could increase by 1.8% in the long-term (equivalent to £38 billion) – underpinning why health and disability reform to get Britain working is central to unlocking growth and delivering on the Plan for Change.  

    The government has already hit the ground running on prevention to address the mental health challenges young people are facing and ensure they get the treatment they need. This includes investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment. 

    We have already helped almost 70,000 people with mental health issues back into employment last year as part of the expansion of the Talking Therapies programme, up more than 60% on the year before and we are continuing to expand the programmes so more people can benefit from treatment.  

    The report sets out the main areas for the next stage of engagement – where in the coming months written submissions and face-to-face engagements with businesses and stakeholders will gather evidence to develop recommendations to come in Autumn.  

    The government has also put in place measures to make work pay and more secure, to help keep more people in work and support employers with retention. 

    This includes through the Employment Rights Bill which will strengthen workers’ rights protections, including expanding Statutory Sick Pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners who previously received nothing, ensuring employees have the right to payments from the first day they are ill – so no one has to choose between their health or staying in work.  

    We are also increasing the National Living Wage from April, benefiting 3 million of the lowest paid full-time workers by up to £2,500 and introducing a Youth Guarantee to ensure every young person is either learning or earning.  

    This Discovery report comes as the Work and Pensions Secretary set out the largest welfare reforms for a generation this week to help those sick and disabled people who can work into jobs – backed by £1 billion investment.  

    This includes consulting on delaying access to the health top up in Universal Credit until someone is aged 22, with savings reinvested into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee.  

    These range of measures also include scrapping the controversial Work Capability Assessment that drives people into dependency and introducing the biggest package of new employment support including an early support conversation to stop an inactivity spiral.    

    The new measures are designed to ensure a welfare system that is fit for purpose and available for future generations – opening up employment opportunities, boosting economic growth and tackling the spiralling benefits bill, while also ensuring those who cannot work get the support, they need as part of the government’s Plan for Change.  

    This will end years of inaction, which has led to one in eight young people not currently in work, education or training and 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long term sickness – one of the highest rates in the G7.   

    All this has driven the spiralling benefits bill, forecast to reach £70 billion a year of spending on health and disability benefits for working age people by the end of the decade, or more than £1 billion a week.     

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 March 2025 News release Three cities honoured for public health achievements at 2025 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Today, during the annual Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Paris, three cities were recognized for their achievements in preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries: Córdoba, Argentina; Fortaleza, Brazil; and Greater Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Summit, co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization (WHO), Vital Strategies, and the City of Paris, convened mayors and officials from 61 cities in the Partnership for Healthy Cities network to address pressing public health issues and share effective strategies for saving lives and building healthier communities at the local level.

    “Noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and injuries are responsible for more than 80% of all deaths globally, but the good news is, they are preventable,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and 108th mayor of New York City. “Cities are leading the way in implementing policies that are protecting public health and saving lives. This year’s winning cities are proving that progress is possible with strong leadership and political will, and we look forward to seeing the results of their efforts.”

    The recipients of the 2025 Partnership for Healthy Cities Awards were chosen because they have made demonstrable progress in preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries, setting an example that can be replicated in other jurisdictions.

    All three winning cities are part of the Partnership’s Policy Accelerator, which provides training and support for drafting policies and establishing the political strategies needed to develop and enact them. These cities are working with the Partnership to improve public health in the following ways:

    • Córdoba, Argentina, passed a new policy committing the city to promoting healthy school food environments by eliminating sugary and artificially sweetened beverages and ultra-processed products from all schools by 2026. The program has benefited 26 schools to date, reaching 15 000 of the city’s 138 000 primary school children.
    • Fortaleza, Brazil, established the city’s first legal framework for air quality surveillance. The 2023 decree guarantees the local monitoring of air pollutants to estimate their impact on residents’ health, along with the installation of low-cost sensors to improve data collection. Reliable data will help inform city policies that can significantly reduce air pollution.
    • Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, expanded the number of outdoor smoke-free areas as part of efforts to reduce smoking, including opening its first smoke-free park, covering 6.5 acres of public space. Greater Manchester also conducted a series of community consultations and workshops with residents to help with decision-making; launched a smoke-free toolkit and communication guidance for National Health Service (NHS) hospitals and sites; and is scaling this initiative by developing a broader smoke-free spaces toolkit for other organizations and groups that want to create smoke-free spaces.

    “Cities are at the forefront of the fight against noncommunicable diseases and injuries. The progress made in Córdoba, Fortaleza, and Greater Manchester is not only improving health today but also setting a model for others to follow,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “WHO is committed to working with cities to build healthier, safer and more resilient communities for all.”

    “Local leadership has emerged as a powerful force for addressing the complex challenges presented by noncommunicable diseases and injuries,” said Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet, President and CEO, Vital Strategies. “We applaud the work of city leaders around the globe in their efforts to create healthier, safer environments for their populations. Their efforts are having a significant impact on people’s lives and well-being, while also demonstrating to national governments that there is significant support for these policy solutions.”

    Launched in 2017, the Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network of 74 cities working to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies, this initiative empowers cities worldwide to implement high-impact policy or programmatic interventions to reduce noncommunicable diseases and injuries in their communities. Through this network, city leaders are enacting transformative measures to improve the health of 300 million people across the globe.

    The mayors participating in the Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit include:

    • Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán, Bogotá, Colombia
    • Municipal Commissioner Palitha Nanayakkara, Colombo, Sri Lanka 
    • Intendant Daniel Passerini, Córdoba, Argentina
    • Honorable Administrator Mohammad Azaz, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    • Municipal President Verónica Delgadillo, Guadalajara, Mexico
    • Mayor Juhana Vartiainen, Helsinki, Finland
    • Mayor Erias Lukwago, Kampala, Uganda
    • Mayor Chilando Chitangala, Lusaka, Zambia
    • Intendant Mauricio Zunino, Montevideo, Uruguay
    • Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris, France
    • Mayor Pabel Muñoz López, Quito, Ecuador
    • Governor Claudio Benjamín Orrego Larraín, Santiago, Chile.

    About Bloomberg Philanthropies

    Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the arts, education, environment, government innovation, and public health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed US$ 3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for ournewsletter, or follow us onInstagram,LinkedIn,YouTube,Threads,Facebook, and X.

    About the World Health Organization
    Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. For more information, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube.

    About Vital Strategies

    Vital Strategies believes every person should be protected by an equitable and effective public health system. We partner with governments, communities and organizations around the world to reimagine public health so that health is supported in all the places we live, work and play. The result is millions of people living longer, healthier lives. To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org or follow us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contacts

    Veronica Lewin, Bloomberg Philanthropies, veronical@bloomberg.org

    Erin Pallotta, Allison Worldwide, bloomberghealth@allisonworldwide.com

    Jaimie Guerra, World Health Organization, guerraja@who.int

    Christina Honeysett, Vital Strategies, choneysett@vitalstrategies.org

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: New Zscaler AI Security Report Reveals an Over 3,000% Surge in Enterprise Use of AI/ML Tools

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • ChatGPT is the most popular AI/ML application, accounting for nearly half of all AI/ML transactions (45.2%) and is also the most-blocked AI application, followed by Grammarly, and Microsoft Copilot as the second and third most-blocked applications, respectively
    • Agentic AI and open-source model DeepSeek are creating new opportunities for threat actors to weaponize AI and automate and scale their attack
    • The top five countries generating the most AI/ML transactions are the United States, India, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan
    • The Finance & Insurance and Manufacturing industries generate the most AI/ML traffic, with 28.4% and 21.6% share of all AI/ML transactions in the Zscaler cloud, respectively, followed by Services (18.5%), Technology (10.1%), Healthcare (9.6%), and Government (4.2%)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today released the ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report, based on insights from more than 536 billion AI transactions processed between February 2024 to December 2024 in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™platform, the largest in-line security cloud, which discovered real-world threat scenarios ranging from AI-enhanced phishing to fake AI platforms. This report also explores recent developments in areas that will undoubtedly influence AI in 2025 and beyond, including agentic AI, the emergence of DeepSeek, and the evolving regulatory landscape.

    The report reveals a 3,000+% year-over-year growth in enterprise use of AI/ML tools, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI technologies across industries to unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and innovation. Enterprises are sending significant volumes of data to AI tools, totaling 3,624 TB, underscoring the extent to which these technologies are integrated into operations. However, this surge in adoption also brings heightened security concerns. Enterprises blocked 59.9% of all AI/ML transactions, signaling enterprise awareness around the potential risks associated with AI/ML tools, including data leakage, unauthorized access, and compliance violations. Threat actors are also increasingly leveraging AI to amplify the sophistication, speed, and impact of attacks—forcing enterprises to rethink their security strategies.

    “As AI transforms industries, it also creates new and unforeseen security challenges,” said Deepen Desai, Chief Security Officer at Zscaler. “Data is the gold for AI innovation, but it must be handled securely. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform, powered by AI with over 500 trillion daily signals, provides real-time insights into threats, data, and access patterns—ensuring organizations can harness AI’s transformative capabilities while mitigating its risks. Zero Trust Everywhere is the key to staying ahead in the rapidly evolving threat landscape as cybercriminals look to leverage AI in scaling their attacks.”

    Key Insights from the ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report

    ChatGPT Dominates AI/ML Transactions, But Security Concerns Remain
    ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used AI/ML application, driving 45.2% of identified global AI/ML transactions in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange. However, it was also the most-blocked tool due to enterprises’ growing concerns over sensitive data exposure and unsanctioned use. Other most-blocked applications include Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot, QuillBot, and Wordtune, showing broad usage patterns for AI-enhanced content creation and productivity improvements.

    “We had no visibility into ChatGPT. Zscaler was our key solution initially to help us understand who was going to it and what they were uploading.”
    —Jason Koler, CISO, Eaton Corporation | See the video case study

    DeepSeek and Agentic AI: Innovation Meets Escalating Threats
    AI is amplifying cyber risks, with usage of agentic AI and China’s open-source DeepSeek enabling threat actors to scale attacks. So far in 2025, we’ve seen DeepSeek challenge American giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, disrupting AI development with strong performance, open access, and low costs. However, such advancements also introduce significant security risks.

    Geographies Leading AI Adoption: US and India
    The United States and India generated the highest AI/ML transaction volumes, representing the global shift toward AI-driven innovation. However, these changes aren’t occurring in a vacuum, and organizations in these and other geographies are grappling with increasing challenges like stringent compliance requirements, high implementation costs, and shortage of skilled talent.

    Finance & Insurance Lead Enterprise AI Traffic by Industry
    The Finance & Insurance sector accounted for 28.4% of all enterprise AI/ML activity, reflecting its widespread adoption, and indicative of the critical functions supported by the industry, such as fraud detection, risk modeling, and customer service automation. Manufacturing was second, accounting for 21.6% of transactions, likely driven by innovations in supply chain optimization and robotics automation. Additional sectors, including Services (18.5%), Technology (10.1%), and Healthcare (9.6%), are also increasing their reliance on AI, while each industry also faces unique security and regulatory challenges posing new risks and possibly impacting the overall rate of adoption.

    The Zscaler AI Advantage
    Built on a true zero trust architecture, Zscaler delivers Zero Trust Everywhere, securing user, workload, IoT/OT communication using business policies, not network policies. Zscaler mitigates AI-powered threats by hiding applications and IP addresses from attackers, inspecting all traffic for threats, and ensuring users access only authorized applications—never full networks. This approach minimizes the attack surface, prevents lateral movement, and stops threats before they can cause harm. Zscaler protects its users against today’s most sophisticated AI-driven threats by implementing the following:

    • Zero Trust Foundation: Minimize the external attack surface through continuous verification and least-privilege access.
    • Real-time AI Insights: Employ predictive and generative AI to deliver actionable insights that enhance security operations and digital performance.
    • Data Classification: Leverage AI-driven classification to seamlessly detect and safeguard sensitive data across Zscaler’s Data Fabric.
    • Threat Protection: Block AI-enhanced threats through continuous monitoring and response powered by the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange.
    • App Segmentation: Restrict lateral movement and reduce the internal attack surface with AI-driven, automatic app segmentation.
    • Breach Prediction: Harness the power of Zscaler Breach Predictor that combines the power of generative AI and multi-dimensional predictive models.
    • Cyber Risk Assessments: Leverages AI-generated security reports to continuously optimize your zero trust implementation.

    Download the Full ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report
    Download the full version of the 2025 AI Security Report here for more information about real-world threat scenarios, AI predictions, insights into AI regulations, and AI best practices.

    Methodology
    Analysis of 536.5 billion total AI and ML transactions in the Zscaler cloud from February 2024 to December 2024. The Zscaler global security cloud processes over 500 trillion daily signals and blocks 9 billion threats and policy violations per day, delivering over 250,000 daily security updates.

    About ThreatLabz
    ThreatLabz is the security research arm of Zscaler. This world-class team is responsible for hunting new threats and ensuring that the thousands of organizations using the global Zscaler platform are always protected. In addition to malware research and behavioral analysis, team members are involved in the research and development of new prototype modules for advanced threat protection on the Zscaler platform, and regularly conduct internal security audits to ensure that Zscaler products and infrastructure meet security compliance standards. ThreatLabz regularly publishes in-depth analyses of new and emerging threats on its portal, research.zscaler.com.

    About Zscaler
    Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange™ is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

    Media Contact
    Natalia Wodecki
    press@zscaler.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c2bf5d3-5720-4db8-bf1f-a9675f48840e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Receives License for New Master’s Program “Industrial Pharmacy”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Novosibirsk State University has received a license for a new master’s program “Industrial Pharmacy”, the first intake of students will be in September 2025. This is a network educational program implemented jointly with the Engineering School of Moscow State University, the industrial partners are the companies “Generium”, “Pharmstandard” and “Medico-Biological Union”. This is the first such educational program beyond the Urals. It is planned that up to 20 people will study in the master’s program.

    The new master’s program will be implemented on the basis of the infrastructure new campus of NSU, which is being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”. The master’s degree will combine fundamental scientific knowledge concentrated in the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the industrial experience of industrial partners. Students will also undergo practical training at Moscow State University and Sechenov University.

    — The buildings of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (IMMT) of NSU and the scientific research center of NSU, which are related to the objects of the second stage of the new campus, will house both educational sites and pilot industrial production in various areas, including pharmaceutical ones, which will allow young specialists to obtain and hone their skills in a licensed production facility located directly at the place of their studies. No university beyond the Urals offers such an opportunity, — commented Mikhail Khvostov, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Cybernetics of IMMT NSU.

    Bachelors of natural science and medical fields will be able to enroll in the master’s program. Within the framework of the program, it will be possible to receive education in two tracks. The first is pharmaceutical development. The educational process will include training in basic, fundamental disciplines, and special courses that provide additional knowledge and develop skills required in scientific research work specifically in pharmacy. The second direction is biotechnology and the production of high-tech drugs, primarily gene therapy and based on human somatic cells. There are only a few such specialists in Russia now.

    — There is a major shortage of personnel in the pharmaceutical industry, including research, expert analysis and production. The new master’s program at NSU will allow training professionals in areas that are currently actively developing in our country. Thus, regenerative medicine and health preservation are important elements of the new national project. Therefore, the demand for specialists working in this area will grow every year, — emphasized Mikhail Khvostov.

    Master’s students of the new educational program will also participate in the development of products, the creation of which is supported by the Priority 2030 program.

    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 New Zealand: Wellington Queer Community to hold Hīkoi to Defend Trans Teens’ Access to Puberty Blockers

    Source: Queer Endurance

    Queer community organisations and protest groups intend to hold a Hīkoi from Waitangi Park to Parliament Lawn on Sunday, 23 March. The march is to be part of the annual Wellington Pride Festival, and is organised by a coalition of groups including several high school Queer Students’ Associations, Queer Endurance in Defiance, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, Wellington Pride Festival, Wellington Pride Parade, and the International Bolshevik Tendency.

    Queer Endurance in Defiance press spokesperson Wyatt Dawson said marchers demanded “puberty blockers and hormones on demand.”

    Many of the same medications are more easily available to cisgender minors in need of gender affirming care, such as for early-onset puberty or conditions affecting hormonal regulation. Dawson says this exposes the reason behind the restrictions as “political, not about kids’ health.”

    “Our current government has been further restricting access our rangatahi have to puberty blockers, ignoring their bodily autonomy and the pleas of our trans community. This is life changing and life saving medical treatment for our youth, and these restrictions—made based on ideology not medical evidence—are tantamount to banning puberty blockers outright.”

    The Hīkoi is intended to pressure the Government and Ministry of Health to reverse moves towards restrictions, and guarantee access to puberty blockers and hormones. While framed as improving service quality, the suggested changes impose such a high standard of expert review that medical professionals and activists worry they will effectively make prescriptions impossible. The restrictions were inspired by the much-criticised Cass Review of transgender healthcare in the UK, and have been described as unnecessary by the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa.

    Protesters are set to assemble at 10am at Waitangi Park, before marching through the city to the Parliament steps, where organisers have arranged for performances, and speeches by high schoolers, protestors, and politicians who agree with their demand. A bus will be provided for some of the protestors unable to make the walk.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Jacobs Highlight Importance of Protecting Medi-Cal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla pushes back against Republican threats to cut MedicaidSAN DIEGO, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51) joined health care providers and community leaders in San Diego to highlight the dangerous impacts of President Trump and Republicans’ proposals to dismantle Medicaid, emphasizing the importance of California’s Medi-Cal program. Padilla and Jacobs heard from health care leaders, families, and pediatricians on how massive federal cuts to Medicaid’s budget would strain services and raise health care costs for millions of Californians.
    The lawmakers underscored the harmful impacts of Trump and Republicans’ partisan plan to cut $880 billion across the federal government, which would mean hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans — leaving millions of seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities without health care. Last year, nearly 80 million Americans relied on Medicaid, making it the largest public health insurance program in the United States. That includes nearly 15 million people enrolled in Medi-Cal, which covers almost 40 percent of the state, including half of all kids in California. One in five California workers rely on Medi-Cal to access care every single day.
    “Republicans are laying the groundwork to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid in order to pay for President Trump’s tax cuts for billionaires,” said Senator Padilla. “They’ve put Medicaid on the chopping block, threatening access to health care for almost 15 million Californians — including 5 million children — enrolled in Medi-Cal. California leads the nation in innovative approaches to health care and expanding access to care for our most vulnerable communities, and any cut to Medi-Cal will have a ripple effect on our entire health care system, especially for our kids. Families are more than just line items on President Trump’s expense sheet; they rely on Medi-Cal to survive, and I will never back down from protecting their access to lifesaving care.”
    “Medicaid is a lifeline for 1 in 6 people in San Diego County. Yet, Republicans in Congress are pushing to cut at least $880 billion from Medicaid – sacrificing people’s lives and our economic security in the process – all to pay for big tax cuts for corporations and the 1%. That’s why Senator Padilla and I went to Rady Children’s Hospital today to hear the heartbreaking truth of how Medicaid cuts will impact their patients, their ability to deliver essential care, and their operations. We won’t give up and we will keep fighting to protect Medicaid,” said Representative Jacobs. 
    Padilla and Jacobs visited Rady Children’s Hospital and spoke alongside the hospital’s Co-President and CEO, Dr. Patrick Frias, Executive Vice President of Operations for San Ysidro Health Veronica Dela Rosa, health care providers, and impacted families. Over half of Rady Children’s Health’s patients are covered by Medi-Cal, and Medi-Cal recipients represent 65 percent of San Ysidro’s patient population.
    Senator Padilla joined his colleagues in sending a letter last month urging the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to refrain from making cuts to Medicaid and Medicare to pay for tax cuts for billionaires after Elon Musk and DOGE officials gained access to key payment and contracting systems at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In the House, Representative Jacobs joined her colleagues in sending a similar letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, urging him to reject the devastating proposed cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and to reverse course on any legislation that deprives Americans of their health care.
    Video of Senator Padilla’s opening remarks is available here, and his closing remarks are available here. Footage of his remarks can be downloaded here.
    Additional photos from the event are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff Invite EPA Head Zeldin to South Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), invited Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit San Diego’s South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBITWP) to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health consequences of the cross-border Tijuana River sewage crisis on local communities.
    Administrator Zeldin recently expressed concern about the flow of sewage flowing across the border, posting about a briefing he received on the crisis and pushing Mexico to “honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage.” The lawmakers wrote to ensure new EPA leadership fully understands the scope of this environmental catastrophe and their role in addressing the environmental and public health harms it causes.
    “As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego,” wrote the lawmakers. “EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.”
    “Researchers have recently discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized, unveiling additional potential risks to the air quality in our communities. EPA, working with the International Boundary and Water Commission, will play a critical role in addressing these issues and helping the region recover from decades of pollution and environmental degradation,” continued the lawmakers.
    Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and causing harmful impacts on public health, the environment, and water quality. U.S. military personnel, border patrol agents, and the local economy have also suffered harmful impacts from airborne and waterborne transboundary sewage flows. In 2023, sewage flowed across the border at the highest volume in a quarter century, exceeding 44 billion gallons.
    The SBIWTP project broke ground in October 2024, and over the next five years, the SBIWTP will double in capacity, reducing transboundary flows by 90 percent. Importantly, Mexico’s rehabilitated San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant is expected to be fully operational by Spring 2025, further reducing flows to California communities. 
    Senator Padilla has prioritized addressing the Tijuana River pollution crisis since he first came to the Senate. In response to a request from Padilla and the San Diego Congressional delegation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened an investigation into the public health impacts of air pollution caused by the ongoing Tijuana River transboundary pollution crisis. Senator Padilla and the delegation also recently secured a $200 million authorization for the Tijuana River Valley Watershed and San Diego County through the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to help address the ongoing transboundary sewage crisis through stormwater conveyance, environmental and ecosystem restoration, and water quality protection projects. They also delivered over $103 million in additional funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in the bipartisan FY 2024 appropriations package. Padilla previously successfully secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to allow the EPA to unlock $300 million previously secured in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the IBWC for water infrastructure projects. Last year, Padilla and Representatives Peters and Vargas announced bicameral legislation to help combat the Tijuana River sewage pollution crisis.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Administrator Zeldin,
    We would like to invite you to visit the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) in the Tijuana River Valley and appreciate your interest in addressing the cross-border sewage crisis.
    As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego. Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and negatively impacting the local economy, environment, and health of U.S. military and Homeland Security personnel. EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.
    While this wastewater pollution crisis is not new, it has intensified over the past two years. Researchers have recently discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized, unveiling additional potential risks to the air quality in our communities. EPA, working with the International Boundary and Water Commission, will play a critical role in addressing these issues and helping the region recover from decades of pollution and environmental degradation.
    We look forward to working with you on this important issue, and we hope to host you at SBIWTP so you can see first-hand the challenges confronting our region. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Expected Executive Order Abolishing Department of Education, Senator Murray, Seattle School Board President, Parents, Advocates Raise Alarm Over Trump Dismantling Ed, Spell Out Harms to WA Students

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    WA STATE FACT SHEET on how Department of Education supports WA students and schools

    ICYMI: Murray, Top Appropriators Demand Detailed Answers on Trump Admin’s Sweeping Mass Firings at Department of Education

    ***PHOTOS, B-ROLL HERE***

    ***WATCH HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, as reporting indicates President Trump will sign an Executive Order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education tomorrow, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, held a roundtable discussion with Seattle School Board President Gina Topp and parents and educators laying out how President Trump’s moves to dismantle the Department of Education are a serious threat to students, educators, and public schools throughout Washington state.

    Last week, the Department of Education announced that it was firing more than 1,300 workers as part of Trump and Elon Musk’s indiscriminate mass layoffs across the federal workforce. This and other administration actions to date will cut the Department’s workforce in half and effectively gut the agency. While outright abolishing the Department would require an act of Congress, President Trump has said repeatedly that he intends to do everything possible to achieve that goal and is expected to issue an executive order tomorrow that seeks to eliminate the Department and move its functions to other agencies. On Monday, Senator Murray led a letter demanding detailed answers from the Department about the mass firings it has conducted and how it is carrying out requirements of federal law and its critical responsibilities despite the sweeping reductions in force.

    “Trump and Musk are taking a wrecking ball to the U.S. Department of Education and firing half its staff—we’re talking about the people who make sure federal funds get to our kids and schools, help students fill out the FAFSA and get Pell Grants and financial aid, protect students from predatory for-profit colleges, enforce our civil rights laws, and so much more. What’s the end goal here? Destroying public education in America—and robbing our students and families of critical funding while Trump and Musk enrich themselves,” said Senator Murray. “The effects of Trump and Musk’s slash and burn campaign will be felt across our state—by students and families who suffer from the loss of Department staff working to ensure their rights under federal law, school districts who have to lay off teachers, students who can’t get the help they need to get financial aid, and families who get ripped off because the watchdogs were fired. This issue is personal for me, and for every single family. We cannot relent in this fight—and we should never underestimate the power of our own voices.”

    The Department of Education provides critical funding and support to students, teachers, and schools in Washington state, including providing $301 million annually in IDEA funding for 152,000 students with disabilities—15 percent of Washington’s student population—and $307 million annually in Title I funding for schools enrolling 511,000 from low-income backgrounds—reflecting 46 percent of Washington’s student population, among so much else. Another central responsibility of the Department is to identify, investigate, and resolve school violations of civil rights laws. A record number of civil rights complaints (22,687) were filed in Fiscal Year 2024; 35 percent of cases were based on disability discrimination. Trump’s plans for the Department of Education are extremely unpopular; 58 percent of voters across the political spectrum oppose eliminating the Department.

    “Seattle Public Schools, like districts across the country, depends on federal funding to ensure every student has access to a high-quality education. These funds aren’t extras—they provide essential support for students from low-income families, English learners, and students with disabilities, breaking down barriers that stand in the way of opportunity. Cutting these programs doesn’t just hurt students today—it weakens our entire community and our future. Any cuts to these programs would undercut our collective future,” said Gina Topp, Seattle Public Schools Board President.

    “ED enforces civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in the educational environment. These three main laws are Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination; Title VI, which prohibits racial discrimination; and Section 504, which prohibits disability discrimination. These laws help students in Washington State and across the county every single day…I help represent the Office for Civil Rights when offices are sued for how they’ve handled a discrimination complaint or when the office is sued over a new regulation or piece of guidance that OCR has published. I work with incredible, dedicated, hard-working public servants. Many of them have spent decades, or for some their entire careers, working for ED. The level of experience and knowledge that they bring to their work is simply irreplaceable,” said Rebecca Yates, an attorney for the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, participating in the discussion in her personal capacity. “Last Tuesday night, like hundreds of ED employees across the country, I received an email informing me that my entire division was being abolished, and my position was being eliminated. I’m upset about losing my job, but I’m devastated about what’s happening to the Department of Education, and deeply concerned about the future of the Department—and the future of public education in this country.”

    “Because my children received appropriate early intervention, IEP services, and accommodations, my oldest son was able to graduate from college and secure his first job. That success would not have been possible without federally funded programs that helped level the playing field for students like him. I once believed I could provide all the necessary support on my own—I even earned a PhD in my effort to do so—but I quickly learned that specialized services, trained professionals, and a strong federal commitment to disability education are essential,” said Lanya McKittrick, PhD, a special education researcher and family support professional, and the parent of four kids with special needs. “As a family support professional working with parents of children with low-incidence disabilities, I see the impact of these programs every day. Families are already struggling with devastating budget cuts that have stripped away services. If we allow this to continue, we risk undoing over 30 years of progress in disability rights and education.”

    “I am deeply concerned about the administration’s recent staffing cuts and plans to dismantle the Education Department,” said Heather Schwindt, an advocate for kids with special needs and parent of two kids with disabilities, one of whom relies on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan to succeed in school. “This decision will set back public education and harm students with disabilities. A primary concern is the potential loss of funding for essential services and programs supporting students with disabilities. These services, mandated by federal laws such as the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, are crucial for ensuring that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. Reduced staffing, larger special education caseloads, and reduced capacity for delivering specialized services will result in a reduction of federal funding for Special Education… 60 years ago, children with disabilities were often denied the right to attend school. We’ve made progress with Section 504, IDEA, and the Department of Education and there is more progress to be made. The Department of Education is vital with the investments it makes in providing research to practice models, providing data on student outcomes nationally, and helping our state and others continue to push to do better for all children.”

    A senior member and former chair of the HELP Committee, Senator Murray has championed students and families at every stage of her career—fighting to help ensure every child in America can get a high-quality public education. Among other things, Senator Murray negotiated the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), landmark legislation that she got signed into law, replacing the broken No Child Left Behind Act. As a longtime appropriator, she has successfully fought to boost funding to support students and invest in our nation’s K-12 schools, and she has secured significant increases to the Pell Grant so that it goes further for students pursuing a higher education. Senator Murray also successfully negotiated the FAFSA Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the financial aid application process, simplify the FAFSA form for students and parents, and significantly expand eligibility for federal aid.

    On Monday, Senator Murray led a letter demanding detailed answers from the Department of Education about the mass firings and other detrimental actions which risk major reductions in support for and oversight of federal investments in our nation’s K-12 schools and institutions of higher education and threaten vital support for students with disabilities, access to Pell Grants and other financial aid, oversight of student loan servicers, scrutiny of for-profit colleges, and more. The letter follows an earlier March 6 letter Senator Murray sent alongside colleagues demanding answers about the chaotic, harmful actions taken by ED since January—which the Department has yet to respond to. During Secretary Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing, Senator Murray pressed McMahon on whether she will ensure approved funding gets out to serve students as the law requires and whether she would protect students’ data from DOGE. She also asked McMahon to name a single requirement of ESSA—and McMahon couldn’t name any. Ahead of McMahon’s confirmation, Senator Murray spoke out on the Senate floor against her nomination and sounded the alarm over President Trump and Elon Musk’s plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

    A fact sheet outlining how the Department of Education supports students in Washington state is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Counseling platform supports mental health of sci-tech workers

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a sandbox in the women’s mental health clinic’s consulting room at the First Hospital of Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    An online counseling platform designed specifically for science and technology workers has been operational for nearly three years, handling over 420,000 inquiries through phone calls and messages, according to Tang Yicheng, executive secretary-general of the Psychological Emergency Volunteer Service Group under the China Association for Science and Technology.

    Tang, who also serves as a member and secretary of the Popularization Working Committee of the Chinese Psychological Society, said that the hotline was put into use in late May 2022 and now operates daily from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., divided into three six-hour shifts.

    The platform is accessible via a mini program on WeChat, China’s leading social media app.

    “More than 100 volunteers take turns to address the mental health needs of science and technology workers,” Tang said during an event hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology earlier this month.

    “These operators have backgrounds in scientific research and are certified therapists. Their expertise enables them to better understand and empathize with the struggles faced by science workers,” he added.

    Tang said that science workers often experience cognitive fatigue, which can lead to memory decline, difficulty concentrating and reduced verbal coherence.

    “Exhaustion and a lack of creativity during scientific research can further exacerbate their distress, compounded by common challenges in interpersonal relationships and parenting,” he noted.

    Given the rising number of people experiencing mental health issues, Tang emphasized the need to enhance public psychological science literacy, including improving the ability to recognize signs of psychological problems in oneself and others.

    It is also important to train more mental health professionals and expand services at the grassroots level, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: More young people are caring for a loved one with dementia. It takes a unique toll

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katya Numbers, Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Lecturer, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, UNSW Sydney

    Miljan Zivkovic/Shutterstock

    Dementia is a growing health problem, affecting more than 55 million people around the world.

    In Australia, an estimated 433,300 people are living with dementia. This figure is projected to rise to 812,500 by 2054.

    Dementia refers to brain disorders that are not a normal part of ageing. These disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, cause a decline in cognitive function and changes in mood, memory, thinking and behaviour. Ultimately they affect a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks.

    In Australia, around 75% of people with dementia live at home.

    While dementia care at home has traditionally been associated with older spouses or middle-aged children, it seems an increasing number of young adults in their 20s and 30s, and even teenagers, are stepping into this role to care for grandparents, parents or other loved ones.

    In Australia, 3 million people (11.9% of the population) are carers. This includes 391,300 under 25 – a sharp rise from 235,300 in 2018.

    How many young carers are specifically caring for a loved one with dementia is unclear, and something we need more data on. Young dementia carers remain largely invisible, with minimal recognition or support.

    Unique challenges and the burden of responsibility

    Unlike older carers, who may have more financial stability and free time, young carers often must balance caregiving with university, early-career pressures, and personal development, including maintaining social relationships, pursuing hobbies, and prioritising mental welling.

    In Australia, where 51% of men and 43% of women aged 20–24 still live with their parents, many young carers will have limited experience in managing a household independently.

    They’re often thrust into complex responsibilities such as cooking, housework, managing the family budget, coordinating medical appointments and administering medications.

    Beyond that, they may need to provide physical care such as lifting or helping their loved one move around, and personal care such as dressing, washing, and helping with toileting.

    Young carers often must balance caregiving with other responsibilities.
    Iris Wang/Unsplash

    All this can leave young carers feeling unprepared, overwhelmed and isolated.

    While general support groups exist for dementia carers and young carers more broadly, few cater specifically to young adults caring for someone with dementia.

    This lack of targeted support is likely to heighten feelings of isolation, as the young person’s friends struggle to relate to the emotional and practical burdens young carers face.

    The demanding nature of caregiving, combined with the difficulty of sharing these experiences with peers, means young dementia carers can become disconnected socially.

    The psychological toll

    These challenges take a profound psychological toll on young carers.

    Research shows young carers are 35% more likely to report mental health issues than their non-caregiving peers. These can include depression, anxiety and burnout.

    Again, we don’t have data on mental health outcomes among young dementia carers specifically. But in Australia, 75% of dementia carers reported being affected physically or emotionally by their caring role. Some 41% felt weary or lacked energy, and 31% felt worried or depressed.

    Also, there are negative stereotypes about ageing – that people turn forgetful, frail, and need constant care. For young carers whose loved ones have dementia, these stereotypes can be reinforced by their experience. This could shape young carers’ perceptions of their own future health and wellbeing and increase anxiety about ageing.

    Caregiving may also affect physical health. Research suggests carers often sacrifice healthy habits such as exercise and a balanced diet. What’s more, carers report symptoms including poor sleep, fatigue, headaches and back pain due to the physical demands of caregiving.

    Caring for a parent – a role reversal

    This emotional burden is particularly acute for those caring for a parent. These young carers are likely to experience the progressive loss of parental support, while simultaneously assuming the demanding role of caregiver.

    A significant portion of young dementia carers support parents with young-onset dementia, a form of dementia diagnosed before age 65. These young carers face the shock of a diagnosis that defies typical expectations of ageing.

    The burden may be compounded by fears of genetic inheritance. Young onset dementia often has a hereditary component.

    This means young carers may have a higher risk of developing the condition themselves – a concern spousal carers don’t have. This fear can fuel health anxiety, alter life planning, and create a pervasive sense of vulnerability.

    A significant portion of young dementia carers support parents with young-onset dementia.
    VisualProduction/Shutterstock

    How we can better support young dementia carers

    Despite their growing numbers, young dementia carers remain largely overlooked in research, policy and support services. This is partly due to the challenges in engaging this demographic in research, as these young people juggle busy lives balancing caregiving with education and work.

    Many young carers also don’t self-identify as carers, hindering their access to support and resources. This could be because of the stigmatising label, or a feeling they’re not doing enough to qualify as a carer. It could even be because of cultural norms which can frame caregiving as a family obligation, rather than a distinct role.

    Nonetheless, young dementia carers require targeted support beyond generic caregiving resources.

    This support might include specialised peer networks, educational programs, and practical skills training. Tailored programs and resources should ideally be co-designed with young dementia carers to ensure they meet their unique needs and preferences.

    With dementia cases in Australia and elsewhere projected to increase, the demand for informal carers – including young adults – will continue to grow.

    Without intervention, these young carers risk burnout, social isolation, and long-term health consequences. We must ensure flexible, age-appropriate support for this often invisible group. Investing in young dementia carers is not just a moral imperative – it’s a crucial step toward a sustainable, compassionate care system for the future.

    Dementia Australia offers a national helpline, information sessions, and a peer-to-peer connection platform for carers.

    The Young Carers Network, run by Carers Australia, offers mental health resources, financial guidance, and respite care information, plus bursaries young carers can apply for to reduce financial pressure.

    Katya is a co-founder of Y-Care of Dementia, a support network for Australians in their 20s and 30s who are caring for someone living with dementia.

    Serena Sabatini 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. More young people are caring for a loved one with dementia. It takes a unique toll – https://theconversation.com/more-young-people-are-caring-for-a-loved-one-with-dementia-it-takes-a-unique-toll-249361

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Innovative collaboration for women’s health screening

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Innovative collaboration for women’s health screening

    Published: 20 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for the North Coast, Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Women

    In a first for the NSW North Coast, women will be able to have both their breast and cervical screenings done in a single visit, thanks to a Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) and BreastScreen NSW partnership.

    The Cervical Screening Collaborative is an initiative of MNCLHD’s Women’s Health team, ensuring women have access to timely, effective screening with nursing support throughout the process.

    Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, with more than 70 per cent of cases occurring in people who have never been screened or are overdue for their cervical screening.

    A Cervical Screening Test every five years is recommended for eligible people aged 25 to 74 who have ever been sexually active. A quick and simple procedure, the test looks for a common infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes almost all cervical cancers.

    Under the pilot project, women will be offered a cervical screening appointment at the time of booking their routine breast screening with BreastScreen NSW, allowing them to opt in to the cervical screening.

    The first monthly clinic was held in Port Macquarie with the aim to offer the dual screening service at Coffs Harbour, Lismore, and Tweed Heads in the future.

    For women aged 50-74, a breast screening every two years is still the best way to detect breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt. Aboriginal women are recommended to start screening at 40 years of age. 

    Any woman who has noticed a change in their breasts, like a lump, should see their doctor without delay. 

    For more information and to make an appointment at a local BreastScreen NSW clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or book online on the BreastScreen NSW website.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

    “Breast and cervical screening can save lives, and I urge all eligible people to get screened when they’re due.

    “This pilot provides a seamless experience where women can choose to attend both breast and cervical screening services at the same time.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison:

    “Many women have busy lives and often put off important health checks.

    “I encourage all eligible women to make the most of this innovative service and book in for the screenings that could save their life.

    “The integration of these services means they can get both of these important checks done at the same time. It’ll help increase cervical screening rates on the Mid North Coast, ensuring early detection and better health outcomes for women.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin:

    “Offering a combination of screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer is a progressive win for women’s health in Lismore, Tweed Heads and Coffs Harbour.

    “Every woman knows these health checks can be a bit uncomfortable, but they are absolutely necessary.

    “Being able to opt in for this dual screening service is convenient and increases the chances of early detection, potentially saving more women’s lives.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, Cameron Murphy MLC:

    “This integrated service will be seamless and life saving. We know that early detection of cancer is crucial and hopefully this new combined service prompts every eligible person to use it.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal MLC:

    “Early detection and prevention are key to delivering effective, timely care that can save lives and provide overall better health outcomes for women.

    “This initiative will provide efficient and easy access to regular screening for women in the Mid-North Coast, helping them to manage their health on top of their busy lives.

    “This is just one part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes for people in rural and regional New South Wales.”

    Quotes attributable to Professor Tracey O’Brien AM, Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW:

    “As a working mother I know how busy life gets so it’s fantastic that we can provide a service that makes it easier for women to prioritise their health and get their cervical and breast screening in one location.

    “The self-collection option to the Cervical Screening Test is now giving people a choice on how to do the test, helping break down barriers and encouraging people to take advantage of life-saving screening.”

    Quotes attributable to MNCLHD Women’s Health Clinical Nurse Consultant Renee Bell:

    “We know that time is precious and providing women with the opportunity to fulfil two commitments to their health at one location is both convenient and beneficial.

    “Our Women’s Health team is excited to be able to offer this timely screening process to the women of the Mid North Coast.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New NSW Privacy Commissioner appointed

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: New NSW Privacy Commissioner appointed

    Published: 20 March 2025

    Released by: Attorney General, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government

    Ms Sonia Minutillo has been appointed as the new NSW Privacy Commissioner to deliver an independent voice on the administration of privacy legislation.

    Ms Minutillo’s appointment allows her to continue promoting, protecting, and enhancing the privacy rights of the people of NSW.

    The NSW Privacy Commissioner investigates and conciliates complaints about breaches of privacy, advises government agencies, businesses, and other organisations on how to ensure the right to privacy is protected.

    The Commissioner also oversees NSW Government agency reviews of reported breaches with a view to developments in policy, law, and technology that may impact privacy.

    Ms Minutillo will continue to provide oversight of and advice to NSW public sector agencies on compliance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2022 and in protecting the personal information of individuals.

    Ms Minutillo was formerly the Director of Investigation and Reporting at the Information and Privacy Commission, leading its regulatory functions including the conduct of reviews, complaints, investigations, and proactive compliance program.

    She has been acting NSW Privacy Commissioner since August 2023.

    Find out more about the Information and Privacy Commission NSW here.

    Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

    “The Privacy Commissioner plays an important role in ensuring accountability in NSW Government by ensuring the public sector handles personal information responsibly and take steps to prevent and manage any data breaches.

    “Ms Minutillo has demonstrated her expertise in this area while acting as Privacy Commissioner over the past 18 months, drawing on her experience leading programs in the fields of industrial relations and employment rights and obligations under NSW and Commonwealth legislation.

    “I congratulate Ms Minutillo on her appointment and look forward to working with her to uphold the privacy of every NSW resident.”

    Attorney General Michael Daley said:

    “As the NSW Privacy Commissioner, Ms Minutillo will drive integrity and strong accountability in the public sector to underpin robust governance at every level.

    “I welcome Ms Minutillo to this significant role. Her extensive experience and qualifications make her well-placed to continue the important work of promoting and protecting the privacy rights of the NSW community.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Enhanced urgent care service for Napier

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government will invest in an enhanced overnight urgent care service for the Napier community as part of our focus on ensuring access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown has today confirmed.

    “I am delighted that a solution has been found to ensure Napier residents will continue to receive afterhours care for urgent problems close to home,” says Mr Brown.

    “Not only will the existing service be retained, Health New Zealand has agreed to enhance the overnight service so that Napier residents can receive more comprehensive care such as access to nurse prescribers, plus overnight medical support from a doctor via telehealth.

    “This is a significant improvement on the status quo and means that the local community will have access to a better service, delivered from Napier Health at 76 Wellesley Road, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    “Work has been underway since the end of 2024 to develop a sustainable model of care for urgent care services in the area.

    “Significant feedback was gathered during consultation on how a better and safer patient experience could be delivered. The enhanced service will include:
     

    • The existing nurse-provided walk in service
    • An additional nurse with the ability to prescribe
    • An overnight telehealth medical service

    “Urgent care supports patients with non-life-threatening illnesses who need to see a medical professional quickly and who can’t wait until the following day for medical attention.

    “Nurses will also now be able to connect directly with a doctor overnight if required or schedule a later virtual appointment for the patient. This is a practical option to ensure the people of Napier have access to a doctor for urgent, but non-life threatening, care. This will further strengthen the ability of the overnight nurse led service to be able to support patients.

    “As has always been the case, anyone requiring emergency care should go to the Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital’s emergency department or call 111 for an ambulance.

    “My focus as Minister of Health is ensuring New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.

    “I am pleased that Health New Zealand has been able to provide certainty to the people of Napier that they will continue to have access to overnight urgent care, now and in the future.

    “I want to thank everyone who has advocated for this service being retained, including local MP Katie Nimon who has been a staunch advocate for the retention of this service, which was put in place following the closure of Napier Hospital in 1998,” Mr Brown says.

    In addition to the enhanced service announced today, Health New Zealand will consider future options to supplement the service such as an on-call clinical pharmacist to support medication dispensing. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Construction begins on new adult mental health building in Christchurch

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey attended a sod turning today to officially mark the start of construction on a new mental health facility at Hillmorton Campus. 

    “This represents a significant step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury,” Mr Brown says.

    “Improving health infrastructure is a priority for the Government to ensure patients have access to timely, quality healthcare, including mental health services.

    “This important project will provide 80 inpatient beds for adults with acute needs and is part of an ongoing transformation of mental health facilities in Canterbury and around New Zealand.

    “The design of this facility incorporates features from previous builds and has been designed to provide contemporary mental health services and a safer environment for people with mental health needs.”

    The Hillmorton Campus redevelopment will continue over the next 10–15 years, ensuring services meet the needs of the community now and in the future.

    “We know that in order to improve outcomes and experiences for people with mental health needs, facilities need to be modern and fit-for-purpose. This project reflects our commitment to delivering such facilities,” Mr Doocey says.

    “The redevelopment of Hillmorton Campus will improve the whole adult inpatient service, ensuring a broader range of options are available to clinical teams to better support people in their time of greatest need.

    “The impact of this enhanced continuum of care across services will be immense, leading to improved mental health outcomes and more seamless transitions for the patient back into the community.” 

    The new facility is expected to be completed at the end of 2027 and is being delivered by Naylor Love.
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New cannabis formula will help epilepsy, multiple sclerosis sufferers

    Source: University of South Australia

    20 March 2025

    Cannabidiol is widely prescribed for its analgestic and anti inflammatory properties.

    Scientists at the University of South Australia have come up with an innovative solution to improve the effectiveness of cannabidiol to treat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

    Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It is widely prescribed for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, but its clinical applications to date have been limited by its poor water solubility and absorption in the human body.

    By developing a phospholipid complex – a class of lipids (fats) that contain phosphorus – UniSA researchers have increased the solubility of cannabidiol by up to six times and improved its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

    Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg says the breakthrough, reported in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, means that patients could experience more consistent and effective results with lower doses of oral CBD medications.

    Currently, only a small fraction of orally ingested CBD reaches the bloodstream, limiting its therapeutic effects.

    “For this reason, a number of different formulations have been explored, including the production of synthetic CBD, self-emulsifying delivery systems, and encapsulating CBD in gelatine matrix pellets, but all of them have only resulted in minor improvements in bioavailability,” Prof Garg says.

    His research team identified the optimal phospholipid composition to form nanosized CBD-PLC particles. Compared to pure CBD, the phospholipid complex improved dissolution rates from 0% to 67.1% within three hours, demonstrating a significant enhancement in drug release.

    In cellular uptake studies, CBD-PLC exhibited 32.7% higher permeability than unmodified CBD, ensuring greater absorption through the intestinal wall.

    Another critical advantage of this new delivery system is its stability. Traditional CBD formulations degrade over time when exposed to heat, light or oxygen, reducing potency and shelf life.

    However, testing over 12 months showed that CBD-PLC retained its performance under varied storage conditions, making it a more reliable option for pharmaceutical applications.

    The study’s first author, UniSA PhD candidate Thabata Muta, says the discovery has significant implications for the future of CBD-based therapeutics.

    “Improved bioavailability means that lower doses can achieve the same therapeutic effect, potentially reducing side effects and making treatment more cost effective,” Thabata says.

    The research team believes that this innovation could be applied beyond CBD, providing a blueprint for enhancing the absorption of other poorly water-soluble drugs.

    With the global CBD market projected to grow from USD 7.59 billion in 2023 to USD 202.45 billion by 2032, the findings of this study come at a crucial time, according to the study authors.

    The team is now exploring opportunities for commercialisation and clinical trials to validate their new formulation.

    Notes for editors

    “Optimising Cannabidiol Delivery: Improving Water Solubility and Permeability Through Phospholipid Complexation” is authored by Thabata Muta, Riya Khetan, Dr Yunmei Song and Professor Sanjay Garg from the University of South Australia. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26062647

    The study was supported by a PhD scholarship jointly funded by the University of South Australia, MedTEC Pharma, and the SA Government’s Industry Doctoral Training Centre program.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
    Research contact: Professor Sanjay Garg E: sanjay.garg@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Defence News – RNZAF flight delivers much-needed medical chairs to Samoa

    Source: New Zealand Defence Force

    A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J Hercules has delivered specialised medical chairs to Samoa.

    The five bulky chairs are designed for patients receiving chemotherapy or dialysis treatment and were donated by Christchurch’s Forté Health Hospital. The delivery was facilitated by Rotary New Zealand.

    The Hercules left RNZAF Base Auckland on Wednesday on its way to the United States, with a scheduled stop in Apia.

    Forté has been donating medical equipment to the Pacific Islands since 2020, as part of a project organised by Rotary New Zealand World Community Service.

    Forté Hospital Manager Angela Ross says the chairs are high-quality equipment and they were grateful they could be given a second life.

    “We know the donation of these day-stay chairs, along with our many other donations over the years, make an enormous difference to healthcare staff, patients and communities across the Pacific. It’s pretty special,” Ms Ross said.

    Rotary New Zealand’s executive director Stuart Batty says he is delighted the RNZAF can fly the chairs to Samoa.

    “For the past 25 years Rotary has been sending shipping container-loads of mostly medical and educational equipment to the Pacific countries,” he said.

    “We got them in the container but we thought we might need to stack things on them and it could be a problem. So I thought I would see if the RNZAF could take them and lo and behold they were able to. It’s fantastic.”

    The chairs would likely be used at Apia’s main hospital, which had dialysis and cancer wards, Mr Batty said.

    “It’s so great the chairs were able to be flown over so quickly after my request. There aren’t too many aircraft which can move bulky equipment like the chairs. The Hercules is perfect for the job.”

    No. 40 Squadron Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Brad Scott, says he is pleased the squadron can lend a hand.

    “In situations where we have spare capacity it is a great way of helping our Pacific neighbours.

    “To be able to offer to move the chairs that will benefit people in need is a fantastic opportunity and we are happy to be able to support charities such as Rotary New Zealand and Forté Health Hospital with the flight.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Budget Delivers More Access to Mental Health and Addictions Services

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 19, 2025

    A record investment of $623.8 million in the 2025-26 Budget supports mental health and addictions services with a $52.8 million, or 9.2 per cent, increase from 2024-25. This budget delivers on critical supports and investments, making services more accessible to individuals, improving coordination of care, getting people the treatment they need in a timely manner and transitioning to a recovery-oriented system of care.

    Of the overall Health budget, 7.7 per cent is directed to fund mental health and addictions initiatives with $486.7 million dedicated to mental health and $137.1 million for addictions. A new targeted funding increase of $20.1 million will expand access to mental health and addictions services and care for Saskatchewan people.

    An investment of $15.8 million will deliver on the Government of Saskatchewan’s commitment to add 500 addictions treatment spaces across Saskatchewan – double the amount now available in the province. Currently, 221 addictions treatment spaces are operational, with plans to have up to 400 of the 500 dedicated spaces ready by the end of 2025-26. 

    “We will build on the success of our Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan by supporting hundreds of newly established physical and virtual addictions treatment and recovery spaces in seven communities stretching from Estevan to Pinehouse,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said. “This year, we will unveil expansion plans to ensure Saskatchewan residents can access these services when and where they need them to overcome addiction and live healthy lives.”

    A further $4.3 million in new, targeted funding will: 

    • Increase access to addictions medicine across the province by implementing a new Virtual Access to Addictions Medicine (VAAM) Program and adding supports for the existing Opioid Agonist Therapy Program in the province;
    • Support the development of a central intake and navigation system that patients can contact directly to self-refer for treatment; 
    • Fully fund the HOMEBASE Integrated Youth Services Site and open the final site at Sturgeon Lake First Nation;
    • Fund two additional five-bed homes for youth with chronic mental health and addictions issues;
    • Facilitate the transition to a recovery-oriented system of care model, which provides an improved focus on treatment and recovery; and
    • Increase funding for the Bridgepoint Centre for Eating Disorder Recovery.

    The 2025-26 Budget will provide $6.0 million in new capital funding for expansion of Complex Needs Emergency Shelters (CNES) in new communities. There are currently two 15-bed CNES pilot projects in Regina and Saskatoon that provide individuals in crisis with a safe place to stabilize while being monitored for the negative effects of drugs or alcohol.

    “These shelters have proven to be effective in protecting and supporting individuals who are intoxicated and presenting as a danger to themselves or others,” Carr said. “These facilities keep the individual in crisis safe and help transition them to support services and programs. We are exploring other potential locations that are best served by these facilities, as several Saskatchewan communities are interested in creating a Complex Needs Emergency Shelter to help individuals struggling with addictions and in need of these interventions.”

    The remaining $27.0 million is for increased utilization of hospital-based services, physician visits and prescription drug costs.

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  • MIL-OSI Canada: 2025-26 Budget: Delivering For You

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 19, 2025

    Saskatchewan’s 2025-26 Provincial Budget is delivering for the people of Saskatchewan.

    Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Jim Reiter tabled a budget today that delivers on the priorities of Saskatchewan people – affordability, health care, education, safer communities and responsible financial management – while addressing the challenges of a growing province.

    “We understand this budget is being delivered at a very volatile time, due to the constantly changing tariff threats from the United States,” Reiter said. “Right now, we do not know what tariffs the U.S. may impose or how long they may last. As a result, it was not possible to build the exact impact of tariffs into the budget.

    “However, we are not letting the tariff threat prevent us from following through on our commitments to the people of Saskatchewan. Our strong financial position means we are well-positioned to weather the impact of any tariffs that may be imposed on Canada and Saskatchewan.”

    As a signal of strong financial management, the Government of Saskatchewan is delivering a balanced budget in 2025-26, with a surplus of $12 million.

    Affordability

    In the 2025-26 Budget, the Government of Saskatchewan continues to take action to ensure the province remains the most affordable place in Canada to live, work, raise a family and start a business.

    The budget reduces income taxes for every resident, family and small business in the province. It also helps make life more affordable for seniors, families with children, persons with disabilities, caregivers, new graduates, first-time homebuyers and people renovating their homes.

    The taxation changes introduced in the 2025-26 Budget, including the initiatives in The Saskatchewan Affordability Act, provide over $250 million in tax savings this year. This is in addition to the more than $2 billion in affordability measures in each and every budget.

    The affordability measures in the 2025-26 Budget include those that help make life more affordable and those that support our growing province. Among the measures are:

    • Raising the basic personal exemption, spousal and equivalent-to-spousal exemption, dependent child exemption and the seniors supplement by $500 a year, for the next four years – over and above the impact of indexation – for the largest personal income tax reduction in the province since 2008;
    • Increasing monthly income assistance benefits by two per cent for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured income for Disability (SAID) clients;
    • Increasing the Disability Tax Credit and Caregiver Tax Credit by 25 per cent;
    • Doubling the Active Families Benefit refundable tax credit from $150 to $300 per child and doubling the income threshold to qualify to $120,000 to make children’s sports, arts, cultural and recreational activities more affordable for more Saskatchewan families;
    • Reinstating the Home Renovation Tax Credit, which will allow homeowners to save up to $420 annually in home renovation expenses, while seniors undertaking home renovations can save up to $525; 
    • Increasing the Graduate Retention Program benefit by 20 per cent to a maximum of $24,000; and
    • Permanently maintaining the small business tax rate at one per cent, benefiting more than 35,000 small businesses in Saskatchewan and saving them over $50 million in corporate income taxes annually.

    Property owners will also receive relief in this year’s budget. All education property tax mill rates will be reduced to absorb the increase in property assessment values and ensure this assessment year is revenue neutral for the province in each property class. This change will save property owners in the province more than $100 million annually.

    This is in addition to the Government of Saskatchewan extending the carbon tax exemption on home heating, which is expected to save the average Saskatchewan family approximately $480 in 2025.

    Health Care

    The 2025-26 Budget delivers better patient access and safer, more responsive care for Saskatchewan residents.

    Over the last two years, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested $15.7 billion in health care in the province. In the 2025-26 Budget:

    • The Ministry of Health receives a record $8.1 billion, an increase of $485 million, or 6.4 per cent;
    • The Saskatchewan Health Authority receives an increase of $261 million, or 5.6 per cent, for a record $4.9 billion budget; and
    • The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency receives $279 million, an increase of $30 million, or 12.2 per cent.

    This funding will provide better access to acute care programs and services to improve patient outcomes, such as:

    • Reducing surgical wait times as part of an ambitious plan to perform 450,000 procedures over four years; and
    • Realigning services at Saskatoon City Hospital to address inpatient capacity pressures by opening more than 100 beds.

    Mental health and addictions programs and services receive $624 million – 7.7 per cent of the overall Health budget – to deliver critical support and investments in Saskatchewan, including an increase of $20 million for targeted initiatives. This includes continued progress on the multi-year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, and expanded access to mental health and addictions services and care by delivering on the commitment to add 500 addictions treatment spaces across the province, doubling the public health system’s capacity.

    To ensure the professionals are in place to provide health care services, this year’s budget accelerates the hiring of health care professionals through the Health Human Resources Action Plan.

    The 25-26 Budget also invests in steady and significant progress on multiple infrastructure projects.

    Due to the positive response to the Regina Urgent Care Centre, planning is underway for additional urgent care centres in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford, as well as second urgent care centres in Regina and Saskatoon. 

    The budget also provides new capital funding for the expansion of Complex Needs Emergency Shelters in new communities, building on the pilot projects in Regina and Saskatoon. 

    Overall, health capital funding will increase by $140 million, for a total of $657 million – the highest ever capital budget to deliver major health infrastructure projects.

    Education

    Kindergarten to Grade 12

    The 2025-26 Budget delivers increased opportunities and supports for kindergarten to Grade 12 students, parents and teachers across Saskatchewan. 

    Over the last two years, more than $5 billion has been invested in kindergarten to Grade 12 education. In this year’s budget, the Ministry of Education receives $3.5 billion, an increase of $184 million, or 5.5 per cent, over the previous year. That includes an increase of $186 million, or 8.4 per cent, in school operating funding for a total of $2.4 billion.

    The 2025-26 Budget also includes an increase of $130 million to fund the new teacher collective agreement and address growing student enrollment and the challenges facing today’s classrooms. 

    Building on the success of last year’s pilot project in eight Saskatchewan schools, the budget provides funding for 50 additional specialized support classrooms throughout the province. The specialized classrooms help reduce interruptions by providing additional supports to students who need them. 

    Student literacy is another area of emphasis in the 2025-26 Budget. Learning to read is one of the most valuable skills developed during childhood and sets the foundation for lifelong academic success. For this reason, this year’s budget provides additional funding to improve kindergarten to Grade 3 reading levels in Saskatchewan.

    The budget delivers on the challenges of student enrolment growth by investing in new schools with a $191 million school capital budget. This includes ongoing funding for the 21 new or consolidated schools and three major renovations underway across Saskatchewan, as well as funding to begin planning for one new replacement school and preplanning for four new schools in the Saskatoon area.

    Post-Secondary

    The 2025-26 Budget also supports students as they advance into post-secondary education. It provides opportunities that will allow students to pursue post-secondary education close to home while focusing on programs that meet the needs of Saskatchewan’s labour force and provincial economy.

    The Ministry of Advanced Education receives $788 million in this year’s budget, with $1.6 billion invested in post-secondary education over the past two years. As part of their budget, universities, technical schools, Indigenous institutions and regional colleges will receive $718 million in operating and capital funding.

    Health care training is a key priority as part of the province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan. New and expanded programs will help build a stronger health care workforce to meet the needs of Saskatchewan residents, including training seats in areas of critical need. This includes supporting:

    • 60 new training seats this year – more than 900 training seats overall – for nurse practitioners, registered psychiatric nurses and medical radiologic technologists; and
    • Four new training programs that will be ready to accept students in fall 2025 (physician assistant) and fall 2026 (speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy).

    The 2025-26 Budget also delivers work on strategies to address veterinary services in rural and urban communities. This includes working toward an expansion of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in the future.

    To help ensure predictable and stable funding for the province’s post-secondary institutions, the 2025-26 Budget extends the current multi-year funding agreement for an additional year. The extension will allow government and post-secondary institutions time to work through the potential impacts of the federal government’s reduction of foreign student visas, before engaging in another multi-year funding agreement.

    Community Safety

    The 2025-26 Budget delivers safer communities across the province by enhancing the presence of law enforcement in Saskatchewan. 

    Over the last two years, $2 billion has been invested into community safety. For the upcoming fiscal year, the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety will receive $798 million, including $119 million for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, while the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General will receive $271 million.

    Increases to the Municipal Police Grant Program will help frontline officers respond to more calls for service, while increased funding for the RCMP will support operations in the province and the RCMP First Nations Policing Program. The budget also includes funding for previous commitments for approximately 100 new municipal police officers, 14 new Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods personnel and funding for the Saskatchewan Police College to train more officers in the province.

    This enhanced law enforcement presence extends to the border with the United States. The Saskatchewan Border Security Plan was introduced in January 2025 to mobilize Provincial Protective Services officers to work in partnership with provincial policing services and federal agencies to boost law enforcement near the border.

    To complement the increased presence of law enforcement personnel, the 2025-26 Budget includes funding to improve safety for correctional staff, offenders and the public, as well as address capacity concerns at correctional facilities. 

    Additional investments will be made in interpersonal violence programs and services, including second-stage housing. The budget also delivers funding to create a more accessible court system for municipal bylaw offences and ensuring cases are complete and ready to move to trial more quickly. 

    Delivering More For You

    The 2025-26 Budget delivers on the priorities of affordability, health care, education, community safety and fiscal responsibility. However, it delivers more than that. Some of the other important initiatives in this year’s budget include:

    • A record $362 million in municipal revenue sharing, an increase of $22 million, or 6.3 per cent, from 2024-25.
    • New funding to start multi-year repair and renovation projects for 285 Saskatchewan Housing Corporation-owned units in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.
    • Funding for expanded homelessness services developed through the Provincial Approach to Homelessness. This includes investments in the Rental Development Program to partner with third-party organizations to develop new supportive housing units for people who need additional support to live independently.
    • Over the past two years, funding from the Ministry of Social Services has created 120 new emergency shelter spaces, 155 new supportive housing spaces, new street outreach services and an expanded income assistance mobile workforce serving clients on-site at more than 30 community-based organization locations.
    • A grant to the Food Banks of Saskatchewan to fulfill the Government of Saskatchewan’s two-year commitment to help families and food banks with high food costs.
    • A $20 million increase across government in funding for community-based organizations.
    • The creation of a new Saskatchewan Young Entrepreneur Bursary, which is an annual grant of $285,000 for a maximum of 57 bursaries distributed to support youth entrepreneurship in the province.
    • The creation of a new Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Tax Credit, a 45 per cent non-refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations that invest in the equity of an eligible Saskatchewan small and medium size enterprise.
    • Introduction of the Low Productivity and Reactivation Oil Well Program to encourage industry to make new capital investments in low-producing and inactive horizontal oil wells.
    • Investment in capital projects that will improve our provincial transportation system, including:
      • Passing lanes for Highway 10 between Fort Qu’Appelle and Melville, and Highway 17 north of Lloydminster;
      • Highway 39 twinning at Weyburn; 
      • Ongoing corridor improvements on Highway 5 east of Saskatoon; and 
      • Improvements of more than 1,000 kilometres of provincial highways.

    Fiscal Responsibility

    The surplus forecast for the 2025-26 Budget leaves Saskatchewan in one of the strongest financial positions among provinces.

    The surplus is driven by forecast revenues of $21.1 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion, or 6 per cent, compared to last year. Total expense is projected to be $21.0 billion, which is an increase of $909 million, or 4.5 per cent, from the 2024-25 Budget.

    Non-Renewable Resources revenue accounts for 12.8 per cent of total expense in this year’s budget. 

    Another sign of Saskatchewan’s strong financial position is the province’s net debt position, which remains the second lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio among Canadian provinces at 14.6 per cent. 

    The Government of Saskatchewan’s prudent financial management is also reflected in the province’s credit ratings. Saskatchewan currently maintains the second-best credit rating among the provinces when the ratings from the three major agencies – Moody’s Investors Service, Morningstar DBRS and S&P Global – are considered.

    Saskatchewan’s strong financial position in this year’s budget is buoyed by the provincial economy’s solid performance in 2024. Building upon this momentum, the Saskatchewan economy is expected to continue to grow in 2025 with real GDP projected to grow by 1.8 per cent according to the average private-sector forecast. 

    For more information on the 2025-26 Provincial Budget, please review the budget materials and ministry news releases on saskatchewan.ca/budget. 

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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Innovation Saskatchewan Delivering Research Infrastructure to Strengthen Global Leadership

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 19, 2025

    Innovation Saskatchewan, the provincial government’s innovation agency, is investing in research infrastructure to support Saskatchewan’s world-class research community.

    The 2025-26 Budget includes a $3.0 million commitment to the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and an additional $4.1 million commitment to the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) for enhancements to equipment and infrastructure.

    These targeted investments will strengthen existing facilities foundational to the province’s research landscape, making it easier for innovators to develop ideas in Saskatchewan, attract and retain top talent and share high-demand solutions with the world.

    “Saskatchewan is a global leader in cutting-edge research and technological innovation,” Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Warren Kaeding said. “By investing in the province’s world-class research community, we are accelerating made-in-Saskatchewan solutions to global challenges, creating jobs and driving economic growth to achieve our 2030 Growth Plan goals.”

    A cornerstone of Saskatchewan’s research leadership is its network of world-class research centres, including CLS, a major international research facility home to Canada’s only synchrotron and one of the most advanced in the world, and VIDO, a global leader in infectious disease and vaccine research for over half a century.

    The additional $3.0 million for CLS matches federal funding to add new state-of-the-art equipment essential to continuing reliable and sustainable operations. The funding ensures CLS will remain at the forefront of research innovation and enhance its ability to advance scientific discovery.

    The additional $4.1 million commitment for VIDO builds on Innovation Saskatchewan’s $15.0 million commitment in 2021 to expand capabilities for the organization to become Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research. This includes upgrading facilities to containment Level 4 standards – the highest level possible. Once completed, VIDO will be Canada’s only non-governmental facility capable of handling the world’s most dangerous pathogens, elevating Saskatchewan’s role in global health security.

    “For decades, Saskatchewan has strategically built a dynamic research ecosystem and CLS and VIDO are central to that vision,” Innovation Saskatchewan CEO Kari Harvey said. “Strengthening our commitments will broaden our impact, securing our province’s future and cementing our reputation as a global research leader.”

    In addition to the 2025-26 research investment, Innovation Saskatchewan continues planning for the redevelopment of the Galleria, the flagship building at its Innovation Place research and technology park in Saskatoon. The west wing is being transformed into a multi-tenant space for scaling companies – particularly those in agtech and other key sector industries – with integrated laboratories, pilot plant space and other specialized infrastructure to support Saskatchewan’s growing technology sector.    

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: 2025-26 Health Budget Delivers Record Funding for Better Patient Access, More Responsive Care

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 19, 2025

    The 2025-26 Budget delivers on key health care commitments including better access to acute and emergency care, team-based primary care and continuing care services. This year’s budget also supports progress on the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, accelerates health care workforce hiring and continues building on future infrastructure projects, including new hospitals, long-term care homes and additional urgent care centres. 

    The record Ministry of Health budget is $8.07 billion, an increase of $484.6 million, or 6.4 per cent, over the previous year. The Saskatchewan Health Authority will receive a $261.1 million increase, or 5.6 per cent, for a total record budget of $4.94 billion. 

    “This year’s budget delivers on key commitments to deliver more timely access to our health care system,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Our government will provide significant budget investments to increase access to acute care in Saskatoon, perform more surgeries, increase access to specialized diagnostic imaging and invest in programs that connect all Saskatchewan residents to a primary health care provider.

    “This budget also expands glucose monitoring coverage to vastly improve quality of life and ease financial impacts for nearly 10,000 Saskatchewan people with diabetes. We will open the highly anticipated Breast Health Centre in Regina to provide a full range of services and wraparound support for women experiencing a challenging diagnosis.”

    The 2025-26 Budget provides better access to acute health care services for safer, more responsive patient care with total investment increases of $88.1 million. 

    Plans to ramp up surgical volumes this year through a $15.1 million investment increase will kickstart ambitious plans to perform 450,000 procedures over four years and reduce surgical wait times. This investment will introduce the innovative robot-assisted surgery program at Pasqua Hospital in Regina and enhance other services to meet this aggressive four-year surgical target.

    Optimizing space and realigning services at Saskatoon City Hospital will help address capacity pressures in Saskatoon with a multi-phased approach to open more than 100 acute care beds. This $30.0 million investment will support physical space upgrades to expand acute care and convert outpatient and other spaces to inpatient units.

    Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will receive a $6.6 million increase for additional paramedics in the system and Diagnostic Imaging will receive a $6.0 million boost to increase specialized medical imaging volumes to continue gains made in patient wait times.

    Other 2025-26 acute care investment increases include: 

    • $7.6 million for enhanced and expanded pediatric care, including specialist recruitment in areas of endocrinology, rheumatology and other specialties. The budget will also support additional multidisciplinary staff and physicians in pediatric gastroenterology, allergy and immunology, and cardiology programs, as well as enhancements to physician staffing at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Prince Albert;
    • $6.6 million for HealthLine 811’s Virtual ER Physician Program to expand support to a minimum of 25 small-to-medium rural Emergency Department locations;
    • $4.3 million to bolster the province’s kidney health programs to better meet patient demand for hemodialysis services closer to home;
    • $2.0 million for enhanced laboratory medicine services; 
    • $1.9 million to complete and fully staff the new Breast Health Centre in Regina; and
    • $1.9 million to support operational costs for the Regina Urgent Care Centre. 

    “Rural and northern Saskatchewan receive important focus in this budget with extensive kidney health enhancements and staffing for satellite hemodialysis services in rural locations, including Meadow Lake, North Battleford, Tisdale and Fort Qu’Appelle,” Rural and Remote Minister Lori Carr said. “A virtual ER physician program demonstrating great success will expand to more rural communities at risk of service disruptions this year, and increases to EMS will improve response times and stabilize services across the province.” 

    The 2025-26 Budget will deliver better and more prompt patient access to team-based primary care settings and preventative care initiatives to meet the health care needs of Saskatchewan people with a $42.4 million increased investment. 

    A $5.0 million increase will support primary care improvements, including the expansion of a new model of care called Patient Medical Homes to new communities following a successful pilot in Swift Current that demonstrated better access to primary care for patients. 

    In addition, a $7.1 million increase is provided for immunizations and program enhancements. Beginning April 1, 2025, nearly 10,000 Saskatchewan patients managing diabetes will benefit from a $23.0 million investment for a Glucose Monitoring Expansion Program for young adults aged 25-and-under and seniors aged 65-plus. 

    The 2025-26 Budget also includes new funding to support the transition to HPV self-screening for cervical cancer, make progress on a provincial lung cancer screening program, lower breast cancer screening eligibility to age 43 and support operations to add a second mobile mammography bus that will increase capacity for women in rural and northern Saskatchewan. 

    The 2025-26 Budget will further provincial commitments to accelerate the hiring and growth of the health care professional workforce in the third year of the ambitious, multi-year Health Human Resources Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain employees.

    The College of Medicine will add 10 more in-province physician training seats for family medicine, anesthesia, plastic surgery and other specialties, for a total of 150 provincial seats, as part of a $7.4 million increase. 

    Supports for 65 new and enhanced permanent full-time nursing positions in 30 rural and northern locations across Saskatchewan for improved nursing stability and reduced reliance on contract nurses will receive a $4.9 million increase.

    In addition, this year’s budget includes an additional $94.6 million increase for physician services to support the province’s efforts to recruit and retain doctors, including funding for negotiated Saskatchewan Medical Association fee increases, increased utilization of services and additional physicians. 

    This year’s budget will continue building momentum on strategic investments and successful programming within the multi-year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan to improve patient access to professionals and services, delivering the help and support needed to overcome mental health and addictions challenges. This budget provides new capital funding to expand Complex Needs Emergency Shelters into new communities.

    Saskatchewan residents will see steady and significant progress throughout the province on multiple infrastructure projects, such as new hospital builds and long-term care facilities, with a total record capital investment of $656.9 million, a $140.1 million increase over last year.

    Major infrastructure investments include:

    • $322.4 million for Prince Albert Victoria Hospital construction;
    • $40.0 million for Regina Long-Term Care Specialized Beds construction;
    • $33.8 million for construction of the La Ronge Long-Term Care facility;
    • $24.4 million for Weyburn General Hospital construction; 
    • $10.0 million for Grenfell Long-Term Care project construction; and
    • $3.0 million to advance the Saskatoon Urgent Care Centre (UCC), in partnership with Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments.

    Due to the success of Regina’s UCC model in reducing emergency room pressures and providing access to thousands of patients, planning is underway for additional UCCs in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford, as well as second UCCs in Regina and Saskatoon. 

    Additional funding will continue to support ongoing projects, including the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Rosthern Hospital, Royal University Hospital’s ICU Expansion, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s (SCA) Saskatoon Patient Lodge, Esterhazy Integrated Care Facility and long-term care projects in several communities including Regina, the Battlefords, Watson and Estevan.

    Other capital investments include leading-edge and upgraded technology, equipment and innovations to shape the future of health care.

    The 2025-26 Budget will ensure Saskatchewan people receive strengthened continuing care support to remain at home and within their communities for as long as possible. A $7.1 million increase will fund care for all ages – from children with complex medical needs to seniors – to support individuals of all ages and patients in the most appropriate community setting.

    The SCA will continue to deliver access to world-class care with additional funding toward oncology drugs, therapies and treatment options. The SCA will see an increase of $30.4 million, or 12.2 per cent, for a total record budget of $279.3 million. 

    The 2025-26 Budget also delivers on the Government of Saskatchewan’s commitment to provide a Fertility Treatment Tax Credit to improve affordability for individuals and couples to access fertility treatments.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: World first AI cancer targeting technology among NSW Govt’s $10 million research grant recipients

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 19 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for Medical Research

    A University of Sydney researcher using world-first AI-powered technology to precisely target liver tumours is receiving Minns Labor Government funding as part of a $10 million grants program for promising NSW cancer researchers.

    Dr Chandrima Sengupta is one of 18 recipients of the Cancer Institute NSW grants to support medical breakthroughs and improve outcomes for people living with cancer across the state.

    Dr Sengupta’s team is building a pioneering technology using AI-enhanced techniques and standard radiotherapy equipment to target the radiation beam to liver cancer tumours, with sub-millimetre accuracy.

    This revolutionary treatment will reduce radiation to nearby healthy tissue, enabling the use of stronger radiation to stop the tumour spreading to other organs to drastically reduce the average treatment times for patients. 

    The funding will enable Dr Sengupta and her team to continue their collaboration with radiation oncology experts, industry partners and patients to complete the ground-breaking clinical trial to benefit thousands of NSW cancer patients.

    The NSW Government is one of the largest funders of cancer research in NSW, having invested more than $470 million in the past 20 years across nearly 1000 competitive research awards and grants.

    The grant recipients received funding across four categories this year. Dr Sengupta was awarded $515,716 as one of 11 Early Career Fellowships who received combined funding of $6.14 million.

    The Early Career Fellowships are highly prestigious and competitive awards enabling researchers to lead their own team in the fight against cancer. 

    The remaining three grant categories comprised:

    • 3 Career Development Fellowships
    • 2 Aboriginal Cancer Research Grants
    • 2 Accelerated Research Implementation grants for projects targeting cancer outcomes in rural and regional NSW.

    To view all 2024/2025 Cancer Institute NSW grants recipients visit the Cancer Institute NSW website. 

    Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:

    “NSW medical researchers such as Dr Chandrima Sengupta are doing incredible things with pioneering technology and techniques to reduce the impact of cancer and ultimately save lives.

    “The Minns Labor Government is proud to be supporting researchers and projects designed to deliver better treatments to people with cancer.

    “Our researchers strive every day to improve the lives of people in NSW and beyond and we’re proud to invest in them to continue their work and help improve cancer outcomes for all.”

    NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said:

    “Our dedicated and inspirational cancer researchers are key to improving our understanding of a disease which touches the lives of so many of us.

    “While significant progress has been made in understanding and treating cancer, it remains the leading cause of death in NSW with sadly one in two people being diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

    “NSW is recognised as a global leader in tackling cancer with people, communities and organisations coming together to support all impacted people and help rewrite the future of cancer.”

    Early Career Fellow Dr Chandrima Sengupta said:

    “The precision of our world-first, AI-enhanced cancer targeting technology will allow us to use stronger radiation to improve tumour control while reducing radiation to surrounding healthy tissues.

    “This will halve treatment-related toxicity while reducing treatment time from more than one hour to as little as fifteen minutes.

    “The grant from Cancer Institute NSW will allow us to start taking our technology to cancer centres across regional and metropolitan NSW, creating a network of sites capable of world-class targeted liver cancer radiation therapy.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Busiest emergency departments in Australia slash ramping

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 19 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for Health

    Some of the busiest emergency departments in Australia have seen significant reductions in hospital ramping, according to the latest Bureau of Health Information quarterly results.

    One of the key indicators of hospital ramping is the proportion of patients transferred from paramedics to ED staff within 30 minutes – also known as Transfer of Care (TOC).

    St George Hospital – which received over 82,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 25 percentage point improvement in transfer of patient from paramedic to ED staff in the December 2024 quarter compared with the same period the previous year.

    Blacktown Hospital – which received over 67,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 23.2 percentage point improvement.

    Campbelltown Hospital – which received over 92,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 9.3 percentage point improvement.

    Liverpool Hospital – which received over 90,000 ED attendances last year – saw a 7.2 percentage point improvement.

    These improvements come despite the health system recording the highest ever number of patients arriving to EDs by ambulance – almost 200,000 in a single quarter.

    The Minns Labor Government has invested half a billion dollars into ED relief, which includes:

    • $189 million in tax relief to incentivise GPs to maintain bulk-billing rates, meaning people with non-life-threatening conditions don’t need to present to the ED
    • $171.4 million to expand statewide virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED
    • $100 million to back in our urgent care services to become a mainstay and key instrument of the health system in providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients
    • $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours
    • $15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times
    • $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed
    • $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identified patients early on that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

    “Relieving pressure on our emergency departments and ensuring people receive care in a timely manner have been top priorities of our government.

    “Such significant challenges have been met with a significant half-a-billion dollar investment in ED relief.

    “Today, I’m so pleased to see encouraging progress in our effort to reduce ramping.

    “But I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves, because there is still much more to do.

    “I do want to reiterate that people who present to hospitals with non-life-threatening conditions can still expect to wait long periods in the ED.

    “So if you do have a non-life-threatening condition, I strongly encourage you to phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where you can avoid an unnecessary wait in the ED, and receive care outside of the hospital including through urgent or virtual care services.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Dental Association share’s top tips for a healthy mouth on World Oral Health Day

    Source: New Zealand Dental Association

    The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) encourages Kiwis of all ages to use World Oral Health Day as an opportunity to commit to better oral health habits.
    “Small daily actions can lead to a lifetime of healthier smiles and improved overall health and well-being,” says NZDA Colgate Oral Health Promotion Manager, Anishma Ram.
    “This year’s theme is ‘A happy mouth is a happy mind,’ and with that, there’s an opportunity to highlight the importance of healthy mouths and share the five most important things we can all do to help keep them healthy,” says Ram.
    “It’s not always appreciated, but there’s a powerful connection between oral health and our emotional and mental well-being.”
    “Mouths enable us to eat, speak and smile and their health can hugely impact on how we feel inside and how we connect with others,” says Ram.
    “Poor oral health can create considerable pain, stress and anxiety, and also be extremely detrimental on self-esteem and confidence,” she says.
    “Listed below are the five most important things that everyone should know about, consider, and implement into their routine to maintain a healthy mouth and a happy smile.”
    1. Brush twice a day
    2. Floss regularly
    3. Limit sugar intake and increase water consumption
    4. Embrace healthy lifestyle choices
    5. Book yourself an annual dental check up
    Brushing with fluoridated toothpaste for two minutes, twice a day is the cornerstone of good oral health. This should be done after breakfast and just before bed. Taking a toothbrush to work to brush after lunch is another thing one can do to further lift their game.
    Flossing regularly is an effective way to remove plaque build-up and food debris from between teeth and reduce the chances of gum disease.
    In terms of diet, reducing sugary and/or carbonated drinks and replacing them with water is the single most impactful thing one can do to reduce cavities and tooth enamel erosion.
    The World Health Organisation recommends adults limit sugar consumption to six teaspoons of per day, and children to no more than three teaspoons per day.
    In addition to diet, embracing a healthy lifestyle that avoids tobacco use and excessive alcohol use also pay dividends in terms of oral health and overall health.
    And finally, attending an annual dental check-up with a dentist will prevent oral diseases developing and will enable early detection and treatment of all other issues. Prevention and early detection are the best ways to reduce pain in the mouth, and the wallet.
    For more information on oral health and NZDA’s World Oral Health Day activities and competitions for children, visit www.nzda.org.nz. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova held a meeting of the Presidential Commission on Veterans Affairs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova held the first meeting of the Commission under the President of the Russian Federation on Veterans’ Affairs in its new composition. The members of the commission discussed the results of the implementation of measures to improve the socio-economic situation of veterans of the Great Patriotic War, as well as issues of informing participants in the special military operation about the support measures they are entitled to and the mechanisms for receiving them.

    “The President of the country declared 2025 the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. Today, the most important topic on the agenda is support for veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Those who, without sparing themselves, 80 years ago brought Victory closer, defended our country, their loved ones and their home. Historical memory and truth are our responsibility to future generations,” Tatyana Golikova emphasized.

    In accordance with the decree of the President, a one-time payment will be made to all those who fought for the Motherland on the anniversary of the Great Victory. Over 23 billion rubles have been allocated for these purposes; payments will be received by almost 332 thousand citizens. Preparations for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory are being carried out at all levels. The head of state has instructed federal and regional authorities to provide all possible assistance to veterans in resolving issues of their social protection. One of the priority tasks is to provide medical care, dispensary observation and drug provision to veterans of the Great Patriotic War.

    Much attention is paid to those who stood up to defend our country in the conditions of a special military operation. The government maintains a dialogue with the participants of the SVO on an ongoing basis, taking into account which additional decisions are made. Thus, a new section “Procedure for providing medical care to combat veterans” has been included in the program of state guarantees for free provision of medical care to citizens. Since January of this year, SVO participants have been undergoing medical rehabilitation and spa treatment in 12 rehabilitation centers of the Social Fund.

    A system of providing complexes of state services, services, measures of active employment policy, measures of state support, as well as mechanisms of interaction with employers has been formed on the basis of regional employment services. Monitoring of participants of the SVO and members of their families who applied to employment services for employment purposes has been organized, according to which more than 18.5 thousand participants of the SVO and members of their families applied to employment services, they were provided with more than 58 thousand services. In addition, training of SVO participants has been organized, and within the framework of the national project “Personnel” it is envisaged to reimburse part of the costs to the employer for equipping workplaces for employment of persons with disabilities.

    Other measures are also being taken. The government has issued a number of instructions aimed at informing participants of the SVO about the support measures they are entitled to and the mechanisms for receiving them in various areas – taxation, education, housing, medicine, rehabilitation, prosthetics and others. At the instruction of the head of state, a special section has been created on the Unified State Services Portal, which contains all the necessary information for SVO participants and their family members about existing support measures – from federal to municipal, and a search for measures depending on the life situation has been implemented.

    Following the meeting, Tatyana Golikova instructed the commission members to send proposals to the Russian Ministry of Labor for their compilation in order to formulate a work plan for the commission for 2025. In addition, she instructed:

    — The Ministry of Labor of Russia, together with the Social Fund of Russia and other government agencies, shall ensure control over the implementation of the lump-sum payment established by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of January 15, 2025 No. 15 “On the lump-sum payment to certain categories of citizens of the Russian Federation in connection with the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945”;

    — The highest executive bodies of the subjects are recommended to continue implementing measures to improve the socio-economic situation of veterans of the Great Patriotic War together with veteran, volunteer and public organizations, paying special attention to proactively resolving issues of material and living conditions, including citizens living in remote areas, and, if necessary, to provide additional targeted assistance and support measures to veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Also, together with medical organizations, within the framework of the powers established by federal legislation and the legislation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, to ensure that veterans of the Great Patriotic War undergo medical examinations and dispensary observation on an ongoing basis, including by sending medical workers to the veteran’s home, organizing the delivery of the veteran to the medical organization and back using transport purchased within the framework of the national project “Demography” and regional programs for the modernization of primary health care;

    — In order to provide the most complete and timely information to participants of the SVO and their family members about the possibility of receiving social support measures and the conditions for their provision, the highest executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall update information on the Unified Portal about current regional measures of social support for participants of the SVO and their family members and the conditions for their provision (hereinafter referred to as on an ongoing basis upon updating or adoption of relevant regional acts) and ensure that participants of the SVO and their family members are informed about the possibility of receiving information about available social support measures on the Unified Portal;

    — The Russian Ministry of Health, together with the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, should work on the issue of expanding the information section of the Unified Portal in terms of filling it with information on the provision of medical care to participants in the SVO and their family members, including issues of providing psychological and psychotherapeutic care, medical rehabilitation and spa treatment;

    — The State Foundation “Defenders of the Fatherland” together with the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation shall submit to the commission proposals aimed at raising awareness among participants of the SVO and their family members on monitoring satisfaction with the completeness and quality of social support measures, assistance and services provided to them.

    At the next meeting of the commission, it is planned to consider issues related to the employment of SVO participants.

    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 New Zealand: Privacy Reports – Outgoing Chief Ombudsman releases ‘reflections’ report on Official Information Act

    Source: Office of the Ombudsman

    Outgoing Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says stiffer penalties may be needed for government agencies that persistently delay the release of official information.
    Mr Boshier has today released a report about his reflections over the past nine years, on the Official Information Act 1982, along with separate investigations into seven agencies, and two new case notes.
    “I want to give New Zealanders the big picture as I leave office. As Ombudsman I have a unique insight which is valuable. About 14,000 OIA complaints have come across my desk since I started as Chief Ombudsman in late 2015. I have also conducted 37 proactive investigations into how agencies manage OIA requests. My experience hasn’t altered my view on the OIA: I still believe it is fundamentally sound and has stood the test of time.
    “The real issues are not with the law. They centre on ‘culture’ and that involves trust, behaviour and leadership. Bad behaviour undermines the OIA. The Act’s not the problem-it’s the attitude that needs to change.”
    Mr Boshier says agencies need to commit to developing a culture where OIA work is given priority and it is valued by staff throughout their organisation. He says while there have been significant improvements, much more can be done.
    “For example, I see far too many agencies taking a defensive approach to OIA requests. This attitude can lead to misbehaviour. I believe where problem behaviour exists, even after all the levers provided in the legislation have been applied to their fullest extent, additional incentives and sanctions against offending agencies may be needed.
    “Another area that has become worrying is some agencies’ commitment to record-keeping. Good record keeping is a legal requirement under the Public Records Act 2005. Official information must be not only retained but be able to be retrieved. I have sometimes heard that public officials are pressured to avoid creating records for ‘fear of them being OIA-d’. This is wrong. I believe this is an area of the law that needs strengthening.”
    Mr Boshier says it’s not just agencies that need to lift their game.
    “I have real concerns about how a small number of requesters are using the OIA irresponsibly, for example, by submitting requests that are vexatious, frivolous, or too large.
    “This places a huge burden on responders and frustrates the entire OIA process.
    “Requesters should always be careful that when they make requests, they don’t undermine the very system that allows them to access information.”
    Mr Boshier says another issue is the length of time requesters need to wait before they get a decision from an agency on the information they’ve requested.
    “Today I have also published the findings of my investigation into how seven agencies dealt with timeliness.
    “I didn’t find evidence of deliberate attempts to slow things down but I did see, in all but one of the seven agencies, practices that were contributing to delays.
    “The majority had strong leadership and were committed to sound OIA handling, but there were still some that didn’t have a high-level strategy for meeting their OIA obligations. This should be a priority.
    “Health New Zealand is of particular concern. I regret to say that I have found on a number of occasions that it is not always following the letter and spirit of the law.
    “For a relatively new agency, Health NZ is generating an increasing number of complaints, mostly about the time it takes to make a decision, or its refusal to release parts or all of the requested information. Health NZ’s record management, especially its inability to retrieve regional records, is an underlying factor. Two case notes that I have also released today, identify significant concerns with Health NZ’s delays and administrative processes.
    “Finally, I am increasingly concerned at legislative ‘carve-outs’ where other Acts are amended to avoid the need to comply with the OIA. This happens where there is a perceived lack of adequate protection around, for example, private and commercially sensitive information. I firmly believe carve-outs are not necessary. The OIA as it stands protects any such interests and initiatives.”
    Mr Boshier says a collective effort is needed to make the OIA work.
    “It is very clear to me that everyone working with the OIA must make it a priority to safeguard this vitally important piece of legislation. It is a commitment that is fundamental to democracy and freedom in New Zealand.”
    Mr Boshier’s term as Chief Ombudsman ends on 28 March.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Health Bureau responds to media enquiries on relocation of services of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and future use of King’s Park site

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Health Bureau responds to media enquiries on relocation of services of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and future use of King’s Park site 
         The spokesman said, “To dovetail with the implementation of the First HDP of the Hospital Authority (HA), the services of QEH will be relocated to New Acute Hospital (NAH) at Kai Tak Development Area gradually starting from early 2026. By then, most of the clinical services of QEH, including the accident and emergency services, will be relocated to NAH; while the Ambulatory Care Centre (Extension) of QEH will remain at the King’s Park site.”
     
         Situated in Central Kowloon, NAH will form a service network with Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Tai Sin Hospital in Kowloon City District; Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon Hospital and other hospitals in the Kowloon Central Cluster; as well as the Ambulatory Care Centre (Extension) of QEH to provide comprehensive healthcare services to the residents of the community.
     
         The HA has been maintaining close liaison with the relevant departments, including the Transport Department (TD), on various support for NAH. Regarding public transport services, the TD will plan in advance the provision of appropriate public transport services having regard to the progress and anticipated completion date of the NAH project. The TD will also continue to closely monitor the development of the area, and adjust or strengthen the local public transport services based on actual circumstances, with a view to further enhancing the road traffic network in the vicinity of NAH having regard to the needs of the passengers, including patients seeking services at the hospital.
     
         The spokesman added that the Health Bureau and the HA are reviewing the Second HDP by taking into account the future planning of Hong Kong (including the latest development of the Northern Metropolis), anticipated population distribution and projected healthcare service demand. After the relocation of clinical services from QEH to NAH, there will be room for development of healthcare services at the King’s Park site. Given the convenient geographical location, it will be a feasible option to consider the expansion of the ambulatory care services at the King’s Park site based on the demand of the population in Kowloon. 
    Issued at HKT 21:25

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government welcomes passage of Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government welcomes passage of Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 
     To more effectively combat unlicensed specified processes operations that may cause serious air pollution, the Bill introduces a statutory closure notice mechanism. At the same time, the amendment exercise optimises the scope of “cement works” and the definition of “premises” under specified processes to avoid misinterpretation or control circumvention, such that the trade could enjoy a clearer and fairer business environment.
     
    The amendment exercise also tightens five existing Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) and adds three parameters newly introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines. Among the 15 updated AQOs, seven are set at the most stringent levels of the Guidelines, which are on par with those of other advanced economies. 
     
    The Bill will come into effect on April 11, 2025.
     
    A Government spokesman said, “Through implementing various local air pollution control measures and closely collaborating with the Guangdong Provincial Government, Hong Kong’s air quality has continued to improve. Over the past two years, Hong Kong’s air quality has attained the best level since its return to the motherland, and the concentrations of major air pollutants have dropped by about 40 to 80 per cent. We will continue to work with Guangdong Province to improve the air quality of the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and build a beautiful bay area together.”
    Issued at HKT 19:54

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –