Summary

The most impactful health news of the week included:

• Biomedicine: Immune cells with a bait are more effective at hunting cancer cells.
• Global Health: The US is considering withdrawing HIV aid to Zambia unless it facilitates access to certain minerals.
• International Health Policy: A judge suspends the Trump Administration’s vaccine recommendations.
• National Health Policy: The second week of the strike ends with hundreds of thousands of canceled appointments and no progress made between doctors and the Ministry of Health.
• Business: Privately run hospitals in Madrid achieve better results than publicly managed ones, according to a study.

Biomedicine

• Immune cells with a bait are more effective at hunting cancer cells. Research has developed stronger, longer-lasting, and more precise T lymphocytes against prostate tumors, paving the way for the development of more potent immunotherapies.
• Women who experience menopause before age 40 have a higher risk of myocardial infarction. A new study supports this finding.

Global Health

• The US is considering withdrawing HIV aid to Zambia unless it facilitates access to certain minerals. This is according to a draft memo from the State Department. As with everything, the United States applies the same transactional approach to health aid to developing countries as it does to other activities.
• Health and war in Sudan. The humanitarian crisis is growing amid international indifference.

International Health Policy

• A judge suspends the Trump Administration’s vaccine recommendations. A federal judge overturned Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s vaccine recommendations, ruling that they were not based on science.
• The COVID-19 pandemic brought the UK’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. The service was ill-prepared and forced professionals to put their lives at risk. And what’s worse, both the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust, two important British health think tanks, doubt that the NHS would be better prepared if another pandemic were to occur now. An excellent report by Baroness Hallett, far superior to the official report produced in Spain.

National Health Policy (Spain)

• The second week of the strike ends with hundreds of thousands of canceled appointments and no progress in negotiations between doctors and the Ministry of Health. Various political parties (PP, Vox, ERC, Junts) and autonomous communities (Castilla y León, the Canary Islands, and the Basque Country) are calling for negotiations with the Ministry, which appears to be an obligation of the Administration.
• 74% of citizens prefer public healthcare for complex cases, compared to 24% who choose private healthcare. The 061 and 112 emergency services are consolidated as the best-rated in the system, according to the 2025 Health Barometer, prepared by the CIS (Spanish Centre for Sociological Research) and the Ministry of Health.
•  Padilla (Secretary of State for Health) defends the confidentiality of drug prices. The Secretary of State for Health points out that “publishing the net price could create a barrier to access to innovative medicines in Spain.” A responsible position, undoubtedly.

Companies

• International
  • Ozempic about to become a generic in India, China, and Canada. Novo Nordisk is about to lose patent protection in those countries.

• National
  • Privately managed hospitals in Madrid achieve better results than publicly managed ones, according to a study. Research published in ‘Healthcare’ compares efficiency and quality of care indicators between privately managed centers and traditional SERMAS hospitals, always based on published official data. The privately managed hospitals compared are: Villalba, Rey Juan Carlos, and Infanta Elena, and they are compared with 13 directly managed hospitals.

Biomedicine

• Should you take GLP-1 for longevity? The evidence is exciting, but that’s not the same as proof (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/03/13/should-you-take-glp-1-drugs-for-longevity)
• Detecting oral cancer with a simple photo taken with a mobile phone: the device is still in the prototype phase (https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2026/03/20/depister-des-cancers-orl-grace-a-une-simple-photo-de-la-bouche-avec-un-smartphone_6672658_1650684.html)
• Women who go through menopause before age 40 have a higher risk of heart attack. A new study supports this finding (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/health/menopause-heart-disease-risk-jama.html). Article published in JAMA: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2846695?guestAccessKey=3dab6e72-0105-4f54-a20f-4f2edcb06e2f&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=031826
• Immune cells with a hook are better at hunting cancer. Research has developed stronger, longer-lasting, and more precise T lymphocytes to target prostate cancer, paving the way for more potent immunotherapies (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2026-03-19/unas-celulas-inmunitarias-reforzadas-con-un-anzuelo-logran-cazar-mejor-el-cancer.html). Access the original article in Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx3162
• Unexpected finding: Tumor cells are addicted to glutathione and use it to grow. Considered a cell damage repairer, it may promote tumor growth and survival. Blocking this antioxidant could be a viable treatment strategy (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/oncologia/inesperado-hallazgo-celulas-tumorales-son-adictas-glutation-crecer.html). Access the original article in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10268-2
• An implantable device enables verbal communication in people with paralysis. A brain-computer interface ‘reads’ the brain instructions a person thinks while using a keyboard and converts them into real text (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/neurologia/dispositivo-implantable-permite-comunicacion-verbal-personas-paralisis.html)

Global Health

• Health and war in Sudan. The humanitarian crisis grows amid international indifference (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00415-0/fulltext)
• Are microplastics really dangerous to health? New research suggests that the level of microplastics in the environment and in the body may have been overestimated (https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s421)
• The US is considering withdrawing HIV aid to Zambia unless it facilitates access to certain minerals. This is according to a draft memo from the State Department (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/health/zambia-hiv-aid-minerals-trump.html)
• The WHO warns Argentina that it will be less safe after withdrawing from the organization. The measure was announced a year ago by the government of Javier Milei.
• (https://www.abc.es/sociedad/oms-advierte-argentina-segura-tras-salida-organizacion-20260319175006-nt.html)

International Health Policy

• USA
  • United States cuts ties with a major cancer agency. The US withdrawal from the UN may prohibit its scientists from having ties with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (https://www.science.org/content/article/united-states-cutting-ties-influential-global-cancer-agency)
  • Judge suspends Trump Administration vaccine recommendations. A federal judge overturns Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s vaccine recommendations, ruling they are not based on science (https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/03/16/vaccins-aux-etats-unis-un-juge-suspend-la-refonte-des-recommandations-lancee-par-l-administration-trump_6671476_3210.html)
  • Trump’s health policy that Democratic and Republican states are embracing. The policy is to allow tax breaks for companies, instead of helping citizens purchase Obamacare insurance (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/15/trump-health-policy-both-parties-bullish-on-00813177)

• United Kingdom
  • The Covid pandemic brought the UK’s health service to the brink of collapse. The service was ill-prepared and forced professionals to put their lives at risk (https://www.ft.com/content/8b15c3fd-fd23-4957-9152-3befc8b63078?syn-25a6b1a6=1). Access to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Module 3: https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/16164422/M3-report-web-accessible-PDF-NO-COMMENTS.pdf
  • King’s Fund response to the Covid-19 Inquiry. According to this think tank, if the crisis were to repeat itself tomorrow, the NHS would be in a worse situation due to longer waiting lists and the problems caused by the closure of NHS England (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/press-releases/latest-covid-19-inquiry-report)
  • Nuffield Trust response to the Covid-19 Inquiry. The big question, this report says, is whether the NHS is now in a better or worse situation than before the pandemic (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/nuffield-trust-response-to-the-covid-inquiry-report-on-healthcare-systems)

• European Union
  • Opportunities and doubts surrounding the Critical Medicines Act: The Critical Medicines Act is progressing in the EU with the aim of improving the resilience of the pharmaceutical supply chain, although doubts persist about its development in key areas such as public procurement, industrial incentives, and European coordination (https://diariofarma.com/2026/03/19/la-critical-medicines-act-abre-oportunidades-con-dudas-sobre-su-aplicacion-real)
  • The EMA is tightening its surveillance due to the risk of drug shortages caused by the Middle East conflict. The sector is seeking logistical alternatives in Saudi Arabia and Oman to prevent the geopolitical crisis from compromising European citizens’ access to their treatments (https://www.consalud.es/industria/la-ema-activa-la-vigilancia-estrecha-ante-el-riesgo-de-escasez-de-farmacos-por-el-conflicto-en-oriente-medio.html)

National Health Policy

• Central Government
  • The Ministry of Health will submit guidelines to the Interterritorial Council for reducing waiting lists. The expert working group is finalizing the operational documents that will guide the autonomous communities (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/parlamentarios/sanidad-elevara-al-interterritorial-las-guias-para-reducir-listas-de-espera-1443)
  • The reform of the LOPS (Law on the Regulation of Health Professions) is open for review. The draft bill will review professional functions and the system of continuing education in the National Health System (https://diariofarma.com/2026/03/17/sanidad-abre-a-consulta-la-reforma-de-la-lops-para-actualizar-el-papel-de-los-profesionales)

• Regional Governments
  • Catalan model for the care of rare diseases. Experts involved, including those from CatSalut, evaluate the XUEC (Catalan Rare Diseases Units) and highlight their strengths as well as the need for decisions for their efficient implementation (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/modelo-atencion-enfermedades-raras-catalan-perla-acabar-pulir.html)

• Negotiations on the Framework Statute
  • The second week of the strike ends with hundreds of thousands of canceled appointments and no progress between doctors and the Health Ministry (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2026-03-20/la-segunda-semana-de-huelga-termina-con-cientos-de-miles-de-citas-canceladas-y-sin-acercamiento-entre-los-medicos-y-sanidad.html)
  • The Basque Country, Castilla-La Mancha, and the Canary Islands demand independent mediation to stop the doctors’ strike, which has been rejected by the Ministry (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/03/20/69bd216021efa0822d8b45a3.html)
  • The PP, Vox, PNV, ERC, and Junts parties are now demanding that García negotiate an end to the doctors’ strike. For her part, the minister insists that she is willing to talk, but only with representatives of the Forum of the Medical Profession (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260321/pp-vox-pnv-erc-junts-exigen-garcia-negocie-final-huelga-medica/1003744177429_0.html)

• Health Barometer
  • 74% of citizens prefer public healthcare for complex cases, compared to 24% who choose private healthcare. The 061 and 112 emergency services have consolidated their position as the best-rated in the system, according to the 2025 Health Barometer, prepared by the CIS (Spanish Center for Sociological Research) and the Ministry of Health (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/03/20/69bd42c6e85ece66538b458f.html). Access the latest wave of the Health Barometer (https://www.sanidad.gob.es/estadEstudios/estadisticas/BarometroSanitario/home_BS.htm)

• MUFACE Crisis
  • The MUFACE crisis worsens with more than 24,000 civil servants moving to the public healthcare system. The number of civil servants has decreased from 1,011,834 to 987,677 between January 31, 2025, and January 31, 2026 (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260319/crisis-muface-agrava-funcionarios-van-sanidad-publica/1003744175237_0.html)

• Confidentiality of drug prices
  • Padilla defends the confidentiality of drug prices. The Secretary of State for Health points out that “publishing the net price could create a barrier to access to innovative medicines in Spain.” His position must be understood within the context of the Most Favored Nation Clause promoted by Donald Trump, President of the United States. “Trump has said that he will impose drug prices in his country similar to those of the G7 countries, plus Denmark and Switzerland, that are paying the least. Spain is not part of this group, but Spain’s prices are used as a benchmark by some of these countries, so it all has a cascading effect.” (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/industria/padilla-defiende-confidencialidad-precio-farmacos.html)

• Tuberculosis
  • Tuberculosis alert in Spain: cases rise by 8% and are moving further away from WHO targets. In Spain, the trend is worrying. Far from decreasing, the incidence has experienced a significant increase, driven mainly by social insecurity and vulnerability (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/alerta-por-tuberculosis-espana-registra-un-repunte-del-8-y-se-aleja-de-los-objetivos-de-la-oms.html)

Companies

• International
  • Ozempic about to become generic in India, China, and Canada. Novo Nordisk is about to lose patent protection in those countries (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/health/ozempic-wegovy-generic-india-china-canada.html)
  • Novartis will pay up to $2.65 billion to Synnovation for an experimental breast cancer drug. The therapy targets the PIK3CA mutation, present in 40% of breast tumors with the worst prognosis (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud-bienestar/noticias/13833766/03/26/novartis-pagara-hasta-2605-millones-a-synnovation-por-un-farmaco-experimental-contra-el-cancer-de-mama.html)

• National
  • Hospitals in Madrid that operate under concession achieve better results than those under public management, according to a study. Research published in ‘Healthcare’ compares efficiency and quality of care indicators between indirectly managed centers and traditional SERMAS hospitals, always based on officially published data. The concessionary hospitals compared are: Villalba, Rey Juan Carlos, and Infanta Elena, and they are compared with 13 directly managed hospitals. (https://www.elconfidencial.com/salud/2026-03-20/mejores-resultados-en-hospitales-madrilenos-de-gestion-concesional_4323580/). Access the study published in the journal Healthcare: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/14/6/731
  • The generic drug sector is teetering on the brink due to “reckless price reductions,” which jeopardize its viability. “Today, companies face a very dangerous situation: costs are rising and prices are falling,” says Elena Casaus, Secretary General of Aeseg (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260317/sector-medicamentos-genericos-asoma-abismo-bajadas-temerarias-comprometen-viabilidad/1003744172153_0.html)
  • GSK’s first biosafety laboratory to combat pandemics. The British company has installed the only facility of its kind in a pharmaceutical company at its Spanish subsidiary. The infrastructure cost approximately 5.2 million euros (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/03/21/69bd63c5e9cf4acb2e8b4594.html)
  • Bayer’s plant in La Felguera, the first in industrial decarbonization. These facilities are set to become the first in the sector in Spain to decarbonize their activity (https://www.elcomercio.es/area-metropolitana-asturias/cuencas/planta-bayer-felguera-pionera-descarbonizacion-industrial-20260313090438-nt.html)

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