• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
HealthBrainstorm Health

Brainstorm Health Daily: June 1, 2017

By
Clifton Leaf
Clifton Leaf
and
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Clifton Leaf
Clifton Leaf
and
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 1, 2017, 11:08 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Good morning, readers. This is Sy.

Making sure the poor have access to health care is a difficult prospect even in advanced nations like the U.S. In low-income countries with few resources, it can be a near impossible feat. But what if a digital health education platform could revolutionize the way medicine is taught and delivered in the most rural, isolated settings—and wind up saving 30 million lives in the process?

That’s the ambitious goal set out by 2017 TED Prize winner and Last Mile Health CEO Dr. Raj Panjabi (who is also on Fortune‘s list of World’s Greatest Leaders and was one of the featured participants in the FORTUNE + TIME Global Forum at the Vatican last year). Fortune got an exclusive first look at Panjabi’s TED Talk from April, which was released to the public this morning, and where he laid out the promise of community health workers to “save the lives of 30 million people by 2030” by learning 30 life-saving medical skills, such as how to administer vaccines and monitor blood sugar.

Panjabi’s nonprofit, Last Mile Health, has already demonstrated how these community workers can change the face of rural health by giving people easily-accessible primary care in regions where you may have to trek for two days to find a clinic or doctor. The group trained 10,000 workers who went door to door in Panjabi’s birth country of Liberia to help stem the spread of the Ebola virus during the 2014 outbreak. The Liberian government has been pouring more resources into training these community health professionals since then, Panjabi noted in an interview with Fortune.

As a $1 million TED Prize recipient, Panjabi got to make a wish for the world: “Help us recruit the largest army of community health workers the world has ever known, by creating the Community Health Academy, a global platform to train, connect and empower,” he said during his TED Talk.

This Community Health Academy would be a digital hub that could be used to scale community health worker training so that interested locals wouldn’t have to journey by canoe just to get to a training center, as one participant described by Panjabi had to. It would sit at the nexus of the digital education and community health worker revolutions, as Panjabi puts it, and allow nations like India and other African countries to bolster public health while also creating a massive number of prestigious jobs by putting basic medical accreditation within everyday people’s reach.

But Panjabi acknowledges that government cooperation and private sector technological investments will be necessary to make such a system possible. Ensuring cellular and Internet connectivity so that workers can receive their training will be critical. However, as Panjabi notes, just as technology is crucial to improving public health and medical education, it can also create big new markets for medical devices and digital health apps in countries that have long been ignored.

Read on for the day’s news.

Sy Mukherjee
@the_sy_guy
sayak.mukherjee@fortune.com

DIGITAL HEALTH

Outcome Health hits staggering $5.6 billion valuation. There's another paper billionaire in town: 31-year-old Rishi Shah, whose digital health startup Outcome Health creates special tablets and smart screens used for patient education and pharmaceutical advertising. The firm has reportedly raised nearly $600 million from Goldman Sachs, Pritzker Group, and other investors, pegging it at a $5.6 billion valuation (Shah's 80% stake in the company gives him a theoretical, and highly fluid, $3.6 billion net worth.) Outcome Health's large flat screens and tablets are placed in hospital exam rooms and other areas. Drug makers are particularly drawn to the technology since their products may be advertised as patients receive basic tests and treatments or are simply waiting for their doctor. (Forbes)

INDICATIONS

Mylan may have overcharged U.S. for EpiPen by $1.27 billion. A new Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General report suggests that the U.S. government may have overpaid Mylan $1.27 billion for its flagship EpiPen between 2006 and 2016 because of the way that the company classified the device. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been looking into Mylan's distribution practices since the EpiPen price hike scandal erupted. "Mylan and the Obama Administration reportedly were close to settling the overpayment for much less than $1.27 billion," he said in a statement alongside the report. "Taxpayers have a right to know what happened here and to be repaid whatever they are owed." (Reuters)

QuintilesIMS plots out the latest trends in cancer drug development. Cancer drug makers are increasingly focused on testing out combinations of powerful—and pricey—new immunotherapy products, according to a new report by QuintilesIMS. The interest is partially driven by evolving FDA regulations that make it easier for drug makers to get these kinds of therapies to market sooner. But they also come at a steep price, contributing to a $6 billion increase in global cancer drug spending in just one year. On the flip side, nearly 70 new cancer drugs have been approved over the past five years.

THE BIG PICTURE

Less than half of U.S. physicians now own their practices. The American Medical Association (AMA) reports a sea change in physician-owned medical practices. "2016 was the first year when less than half (47.1 percent) of patient care physicians had an ownership stake in their practice," wrote the doctor's trade group in its analysis. "This marked a decline of around 4 percentage points from 2014 when 50.8 percent of physicians were owners and of 6 percentage points from 2012. The percentage of physicians who were employees in their practice increased from 41.8 percent in 2012 to 47.1 percent in 2016. Thus, not only was 2016 the first year in which the owner percentage dipped below 50 percent, it was also the first year when there were an equal number of employees and owners."

REQUIRED READING

Top CEOs Are in a Last Ditch Bid to Persuade Trump to Stick With the Paris Climate Deal, by Kevin Lui

How to Make Electric Cars Go Mainstream, by Aric Jenkins

A Common Purpose for Business, by Alan Murray

President Trump's Tax Reform Delays May Already Be Hurting the Economy, by Lucinda Shen

Produced by Sy Mukherjee
@the_sy_guy
sayak.mukherjee@fortune.com

Find past coverage. Sign up for other Fortune newsletters.
About the Authors
By Clifton Leaf
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Sy Mukherjee
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Health

Photo of RFK Jr.
HealthFDA
RFK Jr.’s peptide push narrowly gains backing from FDA advisers despite objections from scientists
By The Associated Press and Matthew PerroneJuly 24, 2026
12 hours ago
PartiQular as best resveratrol supplement
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Resveratrol Supplements (2026): Expert Reviewed
By Christina SnyderJuly 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Sunlight Sauna Review
HealthDietary Supplements
Sunlighten Sauna Review (2026): Features, Cost, and Our Take
By Emily PharesJuly 24, 2026
15 hours ago
Peloton Tread Review (2026): Our Experience
HealthDietary Supplements
Peloton Tread Review (2026): Our Experience
By Christina SnyderJuly 24, 2026
16 hours ago
The Best Spermidine Supplements (2026): Expert Tested
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Spermidine Supplements (2026): Expert Tested
By Emily PharesJuly 24, 2026
16 hours ago
maine
LawMaine
Why did a Maine town fine a family that put up a giant metal rooster to support their daughter with autism?
By Holly Ramer, ROBERT F. BUKATY and The Associated PressJuly 24, 2026
19 hours ago

Most Popular

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
Economy
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
By Eleanor PringleJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Tech
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Economy
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
22 hours ago
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
3 days ago
Turns out Dead Internet Theory was right: AI agents are eating the Web, growing by nearly 8,000% and rewiring the Internet's business model
AI
Turns out Dead Internet Theory was right: AI agents are eating the Web, growing by nearly 8,000% and rewiring the Internet's business model
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 23, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.