#24 Telehealth Takedowns 🔫

Abortion edition - also: diabetes doubles, twitter wars, and mile high club.

Happy one year anniversary healthcare wizards. Today’s newsletter is 450 words-long, or a 2-minute read.  

Think about it 💡

💊 Telehealth medication abortions one year after Dobbs. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, telehealth companies have seen a surge in requests for online abortion appointments. In states with limited clinic access, the demand for mail-order abortion pills has notably increased. Companies like Hey Jane and Carafem, two telehealth providers, have experienced a significant rise in pill requests. However, legal challenges and attempts to invalidate FDA approval of mifepristone pose threats to its accessibility.

Source: STAT, Estimated change in average monthly number of abortions per 100,000 people in the months since the Dobbs decision.

📈 The number of adults with diabetes worldwide is set to more than double by 2050, to over 1.3 billion. Diabetes is progressing faster than most diseases worldwide, posing a major threat to individuals and healthcare systems. This alarming trend is due to rapidly rising levels of obesity and worsening health inequalities. Structural racism and geographic inequalities also contribute to accelerating rates, while marginalized communities face barriers to accessing essential medicines and poorer health outcomes. Concerted action between governments is required to curb this global sugar rush before it leaves a bitter aftertaste for generations to come.

Twitter science feud 🐦 

⚔️ A Twitter feud erupted between popular podcaster Joe Rogan and prominent researcher Peter Hotez over vaccines, highlighting the potential risks for researchers and medical professionals using Twitter. As hate speech rises on the platform post-Elon Musk's acquisition, scientists debate whether to stay or head for the exits. 

🧨 Rogan's challenge triggered an internet outcry against Hotez, accusing him of being a "pharma shill", and sparked a heated exchange between some of Twitter's most influential users. "He's afraid of public debate because he knows he's wrong," Elon Musk tweeted about Hotez. "Trying to bully Dr Hotez is ridiculous," Mark Cuban countered.

💨 It seems that Twitter's noise keeps drowning out meaningful discourse, leaving researchers longing for a less turbulent platform. 

Neat News 🗞️

• 🎭 Flo Health's "anonymous mode" feature is now open source for industry-wide privacy protection. Neat.

• 🦸‍♀️ Eisai launched a Gates-backed research collab to develop digital tools for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Super neat.

• 💰 Caraway, a digital health startup targeting Gen Z, secured $16.75 million in Series A funding. Ultra neat.

Clean Content 🧼

• 🖊️ A cool Substack piece on generative AI and healthcare.

• 🧬 The next generation of startups advancing complex genetic treatments. 

• 🎙️ Alex Lebrun, CEO of Nabla, chats to Pear Healthcare about building a defensible and safe Large Language Model for healthcare.

This is what you came for 🍑

✈️ Summer vacations are drawing near, and with them the anticipation of air travel, often accompanied by the discomfort of being wedged between two very pleasant fellow passengers. Well, since you've asked, there is indeed a way to upgrade the experience. For the modest sum of $995, Love Cloud offers private flights for couples wishing to enter the Mile High Club. A steal, if you ask us. Satin sheets, custom foam mattresses... What better way to increase your carbon footprint.

Bon voyage,