Health News Roundup: UK to introduce bill to phase out smoking among young people; 'Critical' to catch up on measles vaccinations to stem outbreaks, says WHO and more

The annual World Happiness Report, launched in 2012 to support the United Nations' sustainable development goals, is based on data from U.S. market research company Gallup, analysed by a global team now led by the University of Oxford. Bayer to seek approval for menopausal relief drug after third trial win Bayer said on Tuesday that it would request regulatory approval for its menopause drug after the daily pill was shown to ease hot flashes in a third late-stage trial, providing some relief for its pharmaceuticals unit that is reeling from a recent development setback.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

UK to introduce bill to phase out smoking among young people

The British government will introduce a bill in parliament on Wednesday to fulfill its promise to phase out smoking among young people by banning tobacco sales for future generations. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, if passed unamended, will be one of the world's toughest anti-tobacco laws and prevent children turning 15 this year or younger from ever being able to be legally sold tobacco.

EU lawmakers vote to extend exclusivity period for new medicines, softening Commission proposal

Lawmakers in an EU parliamentary committee on Tuesday voted to extend the exclusivity period for new medicines compared to an initial draft, seeking to address concerns expressed across the bloc's pharma industry as part of a wider regulatory overhaul. Committee members adopted the draft position published earlier this month before a final plenary vote scheduled for April 11 by a large majority.

Oregon's health authority reviewing UnitedHealth's acquisition of Amedisys

Amedisys said on Tuesday Oregon's health authority has started a review of UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion acquisition of the home health and hospice caregiver. UnitedHealth had announced the acquisition in June, after competing with Option Care Health.

'Critical' to catch up on measles vaccinations to stem outbreaks, says WHO

Vaccinating children who missed their measles shots during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical, a senior World Health Organization official said on Tuesday, as outbreaks of the infectious disease increase worldwide. More than 50 countries have experienced "large and disruptive" measles outbreaks in the last year, twice as many as in 2022, said Kate O'Brien, WHO director of immunization, at a virtual press conference.

Drugmaker Endo receives US court approval for bankruptcy restructuring

Bankrupt drugmaker Endo International said on Tuesday a U.S. Bankruptcy Court has approved its restructuring plan and related opioid settlements to emerge from bankruptcy, which began in 2022. The company said the transaction is expected to close by late April.

Many hospitals in China stop newborn delivery services as birth rate drops

Many hospitals in China have stopped offering newborn delivery services this year, state-backed news outlet Daily Economic News reported, with industry experts warning of an "obstetric winter" due to declining demand amid a record drop in new births. Hospitals in various provinces including in eastern Zhejiang and southern Jiangxi have in the past two months announced that they will close their obstetric departments, according to notices viewed by Reuters.

Gloomy youth pull US and western Europe down global happiness ranking

Rising unhappiness among younger people has caused the United States and some large Western European countries to fall down a global wellbeing index, while Nordic nations retain their grip on the top spots. The annual World Happiness Report, launched in 2012 to support the United Nations' sustainable development goals, is based on data from U.S. market research company Gallup, analyzed by a global team now led by the University of Oxford.

Bayer to seek approval for menopausal relief drug after third trial win

Bayer said on Tuesday that it would request regulatory approval for its menopause drug after the daily pill was shown to ease hot flashes in a third late-stage trial, providing some relief for its pharmaceuticals unit that is reeling from a recent development setback. Germany's Bayer said in a statement that a third Phase III trial with its elinzanetant drug candidate provided supporting data on efficacy and long-term safety.

New Zealand government to ban disposable e-cigarettes

The New Zealand government said on Wednesday it will ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, increase fines on retailers that sell to those younger than 18 years old and better regulate retailers. The New Zealand government has received significant criticism for rolling back a world-first law banning tobacco sales for future generations. It has said it is committed to reducing smoking but is just taking a different approach, including further regulations around vaping.

More than 60% of US abortions in 2023 were done by pill, study shows

The proportion of U.S. abortions administered by medication rose to more than 60% in 2023, following a dramatic decline in surgical abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a report said on Tuesday. The Supreme Court's 2022 decision to end abortion rights allowed more than a dozen states to ban abortion with limited exceptions and close clinics, restricting access to surgical abortion procedures.

(With inputs from agencies.)