7 days in healthcare (December 2nd-8th, 2024)

Summary

The most impactful news in health this week were:

Biomedicine: a very large study shows that prevention and early diagnosis have saved more lives in the last 45 years than treatments.
Global health: A Treaty on Plastics is necessary but it will take time.
International health policy: The British Parliament approves the law to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales.
National health policy: The government intends to launch a new competition on MUFACE.
Companies: The crime of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare brings to light the discontent of customers about abuses with health insurance in the USA.

Biomedicine

Lung cancer could be detected by a urine test. It seems that the tumor produces zombie proteins, which could be detected by a sensor. This would allow the diagnosis of cancer in early stages, which would make treatment easier.
Prevention and detection has saved more lives in the last 45 years than treatments for these five types of cancer: breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate. Eight out of ten deaths avoided are due to prevention and early diagnosis.

Global Health

A treaty on plastics is necessary, but reaching it will take time. 400 million tons of plastics are produced every year and the figure is expected to double by 2050. Plastics would be responsible for 15% of carbon emissions in 2050. There have been recent failed attempts at an international treaty on the subject.
Mpox: efforts are beginning to bear fruit, despite 60,000 cases recorded in Africa

International health policy

According to The Lancet: Strategic imperatives for the health policy of the new American Administration. According to The Lancet, the five priorities are: 1. Improve public health and address health inequities; 2. Move towards a more equitable health system; 3. Address climate change; 4. Promote the use of AI in health and healthcare; and 5. Strengthen science and innovation in health. What The Lancet says is interesting, all that is missing is for Trump to agree with these priorities.
Parliament approves the proposal to legalise “assisted death” in England and Wales, 54% of parliamentarians voted in favour of the law.

National Health Policy (Spain)

Government calendar: the Law of Guarantees, the Royal Decree on Price and Financing and the Strategic Plan of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
The Minister of Health’s plan on mental health involves combating the high rates of consumption of psychiatric drugs. There do not seem to be any other measures. Although it is true that in Spain the consumption of certain psychiatric drugs is high, the plan cannot be reduced to addressing this problem.
The Government is committed to introducing clinical assistants to reduce bureaucracy in the activity of doctors in Catalonia and is considering paying healthcare teams based on the number of patients (not on activity with those patients).
The “Basque Pact” will address the drafting of six health strategies at the end of January. The six strategies are: health and citizen demand; quality and safety; professionals; information; the health sector as a creator of value and growth; and modernisation of health infrastructures.
Cruces Hospital achieves Joint Commission International accreditation. Compliance with almost 1,400 quality standards has been assessed.
The Government begins the process to unblock MUFACE by issuing a new tender.
Smoking falls sharply in Spain and is at its lowest level in 30 years.

Companies

International
- The murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare brings to light the discontent of clients over abuses with health insurance in the USA. Although we know almost nothing about this still unsolved murder, it does not seem very risky to assume that it is related to the poor perception of health insurers among the public in the USA.

National
- Sanitas is considering opening a large hospital in Madrid in Arganzuela: 13 floors and 110 beds.

Biomedicine

Lung cancer could be detected by a urine test. It seems that the tumor produces zombie proteins, which could be detected by a sensor. This would allow the diagnosis of cancer in early stages, which would make treatment easier (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/06/lung-cancer-could-be-detected-by-world-first-urine-test)
Prevention and detection have saved more lives in the last 45 years than treatments for these five types of cancer: breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate. Eight out of ten deaths avoided are due to prevention and early diagnosis (https://www.abc.es/salud/enfermedades/cinco-tipos-cancer-prevencion-deteccion-salvado-vidas-20241205104759-nt.html). Access to the original article in JAMA: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2827241
A single mutation in avian influenza in cows could allow its transmission between humans. The need to monitor mutations is highlighted in order to avoid a future pandemic (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2024-12-05/una-sola-mutacion-en-la-gripe-aviar-de-las-vacas-persistiria-su-transmision-entre-humanos.html). Access to the original article in Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt0180?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D84187969665220337930870085553489090931%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1733398240
A study demonstrates for the first time the efficacy of gene therapy against Fanconi anemia. The work has been led from Spain (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2024-12-04/un-estudio-demuestra-por-primera-vez-la-eficacia-de-la-terapia-genica-contra-la-anemia-de-fanconi.html). Access to the original article in The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01880-4/abstract
A molecular GPS that guides T cells to glioblastoma to destroy it. The technology has been tested in mice (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/oncologia/gps-molecular-guia-celulas-t-directamente-glioblastoma-destruirlo.html). Access to the original article in Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl4237
Stimulating parts of the brain can help the paralyzed to walk again (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/12/04/stimulating-parts-of-the-brain-can-help-the-paralysed-to-walk-again)
NHJM article: Preventing cardiovascular disease, let’s not stop thinking about tomorrow (https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMe2409080)

Global Health

A treaty on plastics is necessary, but getting there will take time. 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year and the figure is expected to double by 2050. Plastics would be responsible for 15% of carbon emissions in 2050. There have been recent failed attempts at an international treaty on the subject (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03932-y)
The suffering from the Bhopal disaster continues in India, 40 years later. In this city in 1984, a highly poisonous gas was released. Although the number of deaths is not known, according to Amnesty International, 10,000 died in the first three days and another 12,000 afterwards. More than half a million people still have after-effects. Union Carbide was the company responsible for the disaster (https://www.economist.com/asia/2024/12/01/suffering-from-the-bhopal-disaster-in-india-continues-40-years-on)
Mpox: efforts are beginning to bear fruit, despite 60,000 cases recorded in Africa (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2024/12/03/mpox-les-efforts-commencent-a-porter-leurs-fruits-malgre-pres-de-60-000-cas-enregistres-en-afrique_6427001_3244.html)
They are investigating a mysterious disease that has killed 79 people in the Congo, most of them teenagers, with flu-like symptoms (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2024/12/04/67507972e4d4d81a348b456d.html)

International health policy

USA
- According to The Lancet: Strategic imperatives for the health policy of the new American Administration. According to The Lancet, the five priorities are: 1. Improve public health and address health inequities; 2. Move towards a more equitable health system; 3. Address climate change; 4. Promote the use of AI in health and healthcare; and 5. Strengthening science and innovation in health (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)02189-5/abstract)
- The National Health Institutes (NHI): from crown jewel to under threat. Although this Agency had enjoyed bipartisan support until now, Republicans have stepped up their criticism of the organization (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/health/nih-trump-kennedy-bhattacharya.html)
- The obesity crisis in the USA: why are there no signs of a “plateau” yet? The signs are not encouraging, in some states up to 80% of the population is obese or overweight, according to the GBP 2021 US Obesity Forecasting (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)02467-X/abstract)
- Most rural hospitals have closed their maternity wards (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/health/maternity-wards-closing.html)

United Kingdom and the National Health Service
- Parliament approves proposal to legalise “assisted dying” in England and Wales, 54% of MPs voted in favour of the law (https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2691)
- Implementing a 10-year plan for the NHS? What can we learn from international experience? As the UK is developing a 10-year plan for the NHS, this King’s Fund paper sets out the 6 priorities: 1. Have a clear vision and be consistent with it; 2. Think beyond healthcare; 3. Involve patients, communities and professionals; 4. Ensure that implementation is the key element; 5. Allow the plan to be adapted locally; and 6. Measure implementation and evaluate the success of the plan (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/10-year-health-plan-learnings-international-examples)
- Can Parliament Recover NHS Performance?, https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/government-recover-nhs-performance-standards-single-parliament

National health policy

Central government initiatives
- Government calendar: the Law on Guarantees, the Royal Decree on Price and Financing and the Strategic Plan for the Pharmaceutical Industry (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20241206/calendario-legislativo-ministerio-sanidad-ley-garantias-real-decreto-precio-financiacion/906159443_0.html)
- The committee of 50 experts of the Government recommends 0 screens until 6 years of age (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2024-12-03/el-comite-de-50-expertos-del-gobierno-recomienda-cero-pantallas-hasta-los-seis-anos-y-etiquetado-con-los-riesgos-para-la-salud-en-los-dispositivos.html)
- The plan of the Minister of Health’s decision on mental health involves combating the high rates of consumption of psychiatric drugs. There do not seem to be any other measures (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/plan-monica-garcia-salud-mental-guias-combatir-altas-tasas-consumo-medicamentos-psiquiatricos_20241203674f618b1258380001f32dd6.html)
- Health begins the process to allow organ donation between HIV-infected people (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2024/12/02/674da5a0fdddff7f198b48d8.html)
- The Human Resources Commission approves the creation of the multidisciplinary specialty of Genetics (https://gacetamedica.com/politica/comision-rrhh-aprueba-creacion-especialidad-genetica/)

Initiatives and news from the autonomous communities
- The Government is committed to introducing the clinical assistant for debureaucratize the activity of doctors in Catalonia and is considering paying healthcare teams based on the number of patients (not on their activity with those patients) (https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2024-12-02/el-govern-apuesta-por-introducir-a-asistentes-clinicos-en-las-consultas-para-desburocratizar-a-los-medicos-en-cataluna.html)
- The large hospital in Malaga is taking a long time: 17 years and will cost almost twice as much (https://elpais.com/espana/2024-12-03/el-gran-hospital-de-malaga-se-hace-esperar-17-anos-y-costara-casi-el-doble.html)
- The “Basque Pact” will address the drafting of the six health strategies at the end of January. The six strategies are: health and citizen demand; quality and safety; professionals; information; the healthcare sector as a creator of value and growth; and the modernization of healthcare infrastructures (https://diariofarma.com/2024/12/04/el-pacto-vasco-abordara-a-finales-de-enero-la-redaccion-de-las-seis-estrategias-de-salud)
- Cruces Hospital achieves Joint Commission International accreditation. Compliance with almost 1,400 quality standards has been assessed (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/pais-vasco/hospital-cruces-osakidetza-acreditacion-la-joint-commission-international_152089_102.html)