Health News Roundup: Congo's Vaccine Delivery, Steward Health's Hospital Sale, and More

The Democratic Republic of Congo expects its first mpox vaccine doses. Steward Health Care gets approval to sell six hospitals. The US Supreme Court backs funding cuts to Oklahoma's family planning. Eli Lilly licenses a rheumatoid arthritis drug for Africa. Johnson & Johnson's talc settlement grows. Novo Nordisk addresses Ozempic shortages in the EU.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of a recent mpox outbreak, anticipates its first vaccine doses on Thursday, followed by another delivery on Saturday. Despite the World Health Organization's declaration of a global health emergency, efforts to manage the disease have been hindered by limited vaccine availability.

Steward Health Care, the largest private hospital operator in the U.S., received a bankruptcy judge's authorization on Wednesday to sell six Massachusetts hospitals, despite a total lack of profit from the $343 million sale. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez deemed it the best available deal.

In a decision on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted the Biden administration to slash $4.5 million in federal funding for Oklahoma's family planning initiatives. The state's cessation of abortion-related referrals prompted this cut, as Oklahoma challenges a lower court ruling in support of the federal move.

(With inputs from agencies.)