Pharmaceutical Access & Cost Control: Mongolia’s Cabinet approved a regulation for single-source procurement of 16 essential strategic medicines plus anti-hemophilic Factor VIII and IX products, aiming to cut costs by MNT 3.15 billion and improve procurement efficiency while reducing risks of counterfeit or substandard drugs. Health Sector Budget Shield: The government also approved austerity and tighter spending through Dec 31, 2026, but explicitly exempted health, keeping funding for student early screening, vaccinations, and seasonal flu prevention. Conservation & Public Health Link: Mongolia plans to relocate 500–700 marmots annually across multiple aimags to rebuild populations, while intensifying inspections against illegal hunting and trade; the report reiterates strict seasonal hunting bans and bans on practices like smoking or flooding burrows. AI for Healthcare & Services: Peking University alumni held an AI and technology exchange in Ulaanbaatar with Mongolian digital and health-related stakeholders, discussing practical AI uses in agriculture, animal husbandry, education, and healthcare. Desertification Watch: A Mongolian report warns that the wild onion “taana” is failing to bloom in the Gobi, signaling accelerating aridity and desertification that can undermine nutrition and livestock feed. UN-Backed Security With Health Implications: Mongolia’s armed forces began a UN mission in Haiti for the first time, leading the multinational anti-gang operation in Port-au-Prince.