7 days in healthcare (Jun 23rd-29th, 2025)

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Summary

The week’s most impactful health news stories were:

  • Biomedicine: There are increasing cases of early-onset type 2 diabetes, before the age of 40.
  • Global Health: Childhood vaccinations are stagnating in twenty wealthy countries, and serious diseases are resurfacing.
  • International Health Policy: RFK Jr.’s approach to vaccines harms science, Americans, and the international community, especially developing countries. A real public danger.
  • National Health Policy: The Basque Health Pact achieves a high level of consensus. Is this submission of measures to a vote by various groups a great skill on the part of the government or a dereliction of responsibility?
  • Business: Trump’s plans on medicines risk increasing prices in Europe.

Biomedicine

  • The Lancet Editorial: Early-onset type 2 diabetes. Although this type of diabetes was considered typical of people over 40, more and more cases of early onset are occurring before that age.
  • Scientists have identified a marker that allows them to predict which patients will not respond to chemotherapy. This could help avoid ineffective treatments, especially in patients with ovarian, breast, prostate, and sarcoma tumors.

Global Health

  • Childhood vaccination is stagnating in twenty wealthy countries, and serious diseases are resurfacing. A study published in The Lancet warns that global vaccination coverage has stalled or is even worsening. Developing areas are bearing the brunt, but the trend is also seen in the West.

International Health Policy

  • The Economist Editorial: RFK’s approach to vaccines harms Americans. RFK is a vaccine skeptic. The dismissal of prestigious scientists from the vaccine committee, the reduction of funding for developing new vaccines, the elimination of international aid for vaccines, and the continuous negative messages about vaccines are turning it into a public danger for the US and the world.
  • Europe is moving toward healthcare autonomy, with the famous essential medicines law.

National Health Policy (Spain)

  • The Ministry of Health announces the creation of a law on patient organizations to “guarantee their independence.” A law on these organizations is announced with the idea of ​​guaranteeing their independence. Although patient associations are very pleased with this measure, we will see if it truly guarantees independence or, as this government does in other areas (Bank of Spain, INE, TVE, numerous companies, etc.), the initiative masks a desire for control.
  • The minister commits to studying the introduction of co-official languages ​​in the MIR exam, at the request of the PNV (Nationalist Party) and Junts (Junts). The representative of young doctors of the OMC (Spanish Association of Medical Doctors) says that the MIR has other reform priorities. It doesn’t seem, in fact, that simple pressure from pro-independence parties could lead to an unplanned reform of the MIR system.
  • The Basque Health Pact has reached a “high level of consensus” with the role of the private sector among the points to be negotiated. Apparently, 22 of its 24 strategic lines have been agreed upon. A surprising model for a government to make healthcare decisions, submitting measures to votes by very diverse groups. The British government, with its ten-year NHS plan, despite having greatly opened up participation, even with a special website, hasn’t thought to put the measures to a vote.
  • Cancers remain the leading cause of death in Spain, which recorded a decrease in suicides in 2024.
  • Not only is there a shortage of nurses, they are also poorly distributed. The nurse ratio is 6.36, compared to the EU average of 9.19. There is a high level of emigration to other countries, which complicates everything. Although the problem is real, this must be qualified by the category of “nursing assistants,” which does not exist in other countries.
  • Operating rooms and beds are closed due to a lack of professionals, creating a serious healthcare problem in the summer. Is it a lack of professionals or poor distribution of vacation time due to union criteria? A recent study by Professor Beatriz Gonzalez’s group shows that if work was done in July-August and December like the rest of the months, there would be no waiting list problems.

Companies

  • International
    • Trump’s plans regarding medicines risk increasing prices in Europe. Trump’s efforts to reduce prices in the US will possibly lead to higher prices in Europe.
    • Large pharmaceutical companies face losses of $300 billion due to patent expirations. This is the cumulative amount for the next five years, according to Evaluate forecasts.
  • National
    • The Ribera Healthcare Group continues its expansion in Europe and agrees to acquire the Polish company Multi Med

Biomedicine

  • Scientists have identified a marker that allows them to predict which patients will not respond to chemotherapy. This could help avoid ineffective treatments, especially in patients with ovarian, breast, prostate, and sarcoma tumors (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/06/23/685919b121efa0ed788b459f.html). Access the original article in Nature Genetics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02233-y/metrics
  • The benefits of the Alzheimer’s drug are too small to justify the cost, according to NICE (https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r1270)
  • Do longevity drugs work? Certain drugs have an experimental effect similar to that of prolonged fasting (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/06/20/do-longevity-drugs-work)
  • The Lancet Editorial: Early onset of type 2 diabetes. Although this type of diabetes was considered typical of people over 40, there are increasing numbers of early-onset cases before that age (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01295-4/fulltext?rss=yes)
  • Vaccines offer dual protection against dementia, according to a study from the University of Oxford (https://www.ft.com/content/4843b63d-d777-40e4-a9df-427b8c16d57b)
  • Gene editing helps correct harmful mutations in human mitochondrial DNA. The new tool known as a base editor edits mitochondrial DNA and represents a significant boost to rare genetic diseases (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/06/24/685ab199fc6c8300048b4587.html
  • A coronary “Google Maps” to guide complex heart surgeries allows for more precise guidance on these complex diseases (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/06/23/68583a5cfdddff6f878b459b.html

Global Health

  • The need to end nuclear weapons. In May 2025, the WHO voted to reestablish the mandate for this organization to reconsider the relationship between the health consequences of nuclear weapons and war. (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00987-0/fulltext)
  • Childhood vaccination is stagnating in around twenty wealthy countries, and serious diseases are resurfacing. A study published in The Lancet warns that global vaccination coverage has stalled or is even worsening. Developing areas are bearing the brunt, but the trend is also evident in the West (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-06-25/la-vacunacion-infantil-se-estanca-en-una-veintena-de-paises-ricos-y-resurgen-graves-enfermedades.html). Access the original article in The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01037-2/fulltext

International Health Policy

  • USA
    • Article in Nature: How to make America healthy, what needs to be fixed. The United States has a life expectancy below most developed countries, despite spending the most on healthcare. Chronic diseases are part of the problem, but so are gun violence, drug overdoses, and car accidents (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01969-1)
    • Editorial in The Economist: RFK’s approach to vaccines hurts Americans. RFK is a vaccine skeptic. The dismissal of prestigious scientists from the vaccine committee, the reduction of funding for developing new vaccines, the elimination of international vaccine aid, and the continued negative messaging about vaccines are turning him into a public danger to the US and the world (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/06/25/rfks-loopy-approach-to-vaccines-endangers-americans)
    • Kennedy withdraws aid to the international vaccine agency Gavi, which he accuses of ignoring science, cutting more than $1 billion in aid from the Biden administration (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/health/kennedy-vaccines-gavi.html)
  • United Kingdom
    • 5 tests on the 10-year plan for the NHS: 1. Does it drive change with priorities and resources? 2. Are people at the center of the design? 3. What is prioritized and what isn’t? 4. Is it truly a long-term plan? 5. Does it inspire confidence? (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/tests-nhs-10-year-health-plan)
    • Call to clean up toxic air as GP visits for asthma rise by 45% (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/29/england-air-pollution-gp-visits-for-asthma-attacks-rise-45-per-cent)
    • Wes Streeting announces investigation into failings in NHS maternity services (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/23/wes-streeting-announces-investigation-into-nhs-maternity-services)
    • Private healthcare is “essential,” says a third of the working population (https://www.ft.com/content/d607bd2b-5367-422b-b768-41f1f987ce0f)
  • France
    • Medical deserts: The government defines 151 red zones for the “mandatory solidarity” mission of doctors (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/06/27/deserts-medicaux-le-gouvernement-definit-151-zones-rouges-pour-la-mission-de-solidarite-obligatoire-des-medecins_6616081_3224.html)

National Health Policy

  • Central Administration Initiatives
    • The Ministry of Health announces the creation of a law on patient organizations to “guarantee their independence.” A law on these organizations is announced with the idea of ​​guaranteeing their independence (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20250624/sanidad-anuncia-creacion-ley-organizaciones-pacientes-garantizar-independencia/1003743818491_0.html)
    • The Advanced Therapies Plan will be introduced interterritorially next week (https://www.consalud.es/politica/ministerio-sanidad/el-nuevo-plan-de-terapias-avanzadas-al-interterritorial-de-la-proximas-semana.html)
    • In the Congressional Health Committee, the minister pledges to study the introduction of co-official languages ​​in the MIR exam, at the request of the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) and Junts (Junts). The OMC’s young doctors’ representative says the MIR has other reform priorities (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/domingo-sanchez-mir-hay-prioridades-introducir-lenguas-cooficiales-examen.html)
  • Autonomous community initiatives
    • Green light for the new Asturian healthcare map (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/autonomias/asturias/luz-verde-al-nuevo-mapa-de-la-sanidad-asturiana-salimos-ganando-todos–2758)
    • The Basque Health Pact reaches a “high level of consensus” with the role of the private sector among the points to be negotiated. 22 of its 24 strategic lines appear to have been agreed upon (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/pais-vasco/la-colaboracion-publico-privada-tensa-la-ultima-reunion-del-pacto-vasco-de-salud.html)
    • Castilla y León presents its Community Health Strategy to improve population well-being (https://comunicacion.jcyl.es/web/jcyl/Comunicacion/es/Plantilla100Detalle/1284663638052/_/1285531881767/Comunicacion)
    • La Rioja activates an innovative plan to boost clinical research in Primary Care (https://actualidad.larioja.org/noticia?n=not-la-rioja-activa-un-plan-innovador-para-potenciar-la-investigacion-clinica-en-atencion-primaria
    • Mazón announces the creation of an advanced healthcare campus in Paterna (https://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-mazon-anuncia-construccion-campus-sanitario-avanzado-paterna-dara-servicio-40000-personas-20250627132050.html#google_vignette)
    • López Miras announces the first oncology plan in the region of Murcia (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/murcia/lopez-miras-saca-pecho-por-la-sanidad-murciana-y-anuncia-el-primer-plan-oncologico-de-la-region.html)
  • Causes of mortality in Spain
    • Tumors are They remain the leading cause of death in Spain, which recorded a decrease in suicides in 2024 (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-06-23/los-tumores-se-mantienen-como-la-primera-causa-de-muerte-en-espana-que-registro-en-2024-un-descenso-de-suicidios.html). Access the INE press release: https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/pEDCM2024.htm#:~:text=En%20el%20año%202024%20se,4%20por%20cada%20100.000%20mujeres.
  • ALS
    • Every day, 3 new cases of ALS are diagnosed in Spain, and 3 deaths occur. (https://www.sen.es/saladeprensa/pdf/Link479.pdf)
  • Nursing Shortage
    • Not only is there a shortage of nurses, they are also poorly distributed. The nurse ratio is 6.36, compared to the EU average of 9.19. There is a high level of emigration to other countries (https://www.diariomedico.com/enfermeria/profesion/faltan-enfermeras-tambien-estan-mal-repartidas.html). Access the original document from the General Nursing Council: https://acenetworksalud-my.sharepoint.com/personal/prensa_consejogeneralenfermeria_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?ga=1&id=%2Fpersonal%2Fprensa%5Fconsejogeneralenfermeria%5Forg%2FDocuments%2F25%2D06%2D26InformeRatios%2FEstudio%20Ratios%202024%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fprensa%5Fconsejogeneralenfermeria%5Forg%2FDocuments%2F25%2D06%2D26InformeRatios
  • The problem of Spanish healthcare in the summer
    • Operating rooms and beds are closed due to a lack of professionals (https://www.eldebate.com/sociedad/20250629/grave-problema-sanidad-espanola-cierran-quirofanos-camas-falta-profesionales-verano_307751.html)

Companies

  • International
    • Trump’s drug plans risk raising prices in Europe. Trump’s efforts to reduce prices in the US will possibly lead to higher prices in Europe (https://www.ft.com/content/366dde70-782b-4afd-9248-93e0a765cfa2)
    • NovoNordisk fights for maximum potential for the obesity drug CagriSema (https://www.ft.com/content/d7a6feab-575c-41ad-8314-3fbaf02f1f57)
    • Big Pharma faces losses $300 billion from patent expirations. This is the cumulative amount for the next five years, according to Evaluate forecasts (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20250625/grandes-farmaceuticas-enfrentan-perdidas-millones-dolares-caducidad-patentes/1003743818441_0.html)
    • Novo Nordisk overtakes Lilly and will lead the obesity drug market (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud-bienestar/noticias/13427983/06/25/novo-nordisk-se-impone-a-lilly-y-liderara-el-mercado-de-farmacos-contra-la-obesidad.html)
  • National
    • Ribera Health Group continues its expansion in Europe and agrees to acquire the Polish company Multi Med (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20250619/grupo-sanitario-ribera-continua-expansion-europa-acuerda-compra-polaca-multi-med/1003743810896_0.html)
    • Faes Farma seeks to accelerate its growth by acquiring companies that will contribute €170 million in sales by 2030 (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20250626/faes-farma-busca-acelerar-crecimiento-compra-companias-aporten-millones-ventas/1003743820226_0.html#:~:text=La%20española%20Faes%20Farma%20quiere,Ebitda%2C%20hasta%20los%20240%20millones.)
    • Stada will sell nine more drugs in Spain this year and is planning new purchases (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud-bienestar/noticias/13438032/06/25/stada-vendera-nueve-farmacos-mas-en-espana-este-ano-y-planea-nuevas-compras.html)