Summary

The week’s most impactful health news stories were:

• Biomedicine: Colorectal cancer screening. The same mortality results as colonoscopy with the detection of blood in stool.
• Global health: American vandalism in global health continues: a simple email from USAID halted efforts to track diseases and prevent outbreaks worldwide. The AIDS pandemic will resurface after the cuts.
• International health policy: Trump is placing American scientists in the hands of Europeans.
• National health policy. The long-awaited (and more than disappointing) AIREF report on the MUFACE model is released.
• Business: Due to pressure from Trump, pharmaceutical companies are committing investments of more than $80 billion in the US.

Biomedicine

• Colorectal cancer screening. This tumor is the second leading cause of cancer death globally. A study has been published in The Lancet comparing colorectal cancer deaths in people with the most common early diagnosis methods: colonoscopy or stool blood screening. There are no differences in mortality.
• How harmful are e-cigarettes? Although restrictions on vaping are multiplying (Belgium, France, etc.), the risks of vaping may outweigh its benefits. Researchers believe that vaping is much less dangerous than smoking. 70 substances have been associated with cancer in tobacco. Vaping also contains some of these pathogens, but in much lower concentrations. A review of 39 studies shows no increased incidence of cancer in vapers who have never smoked.

Global Health

• Trump’s cuts harm global efforts to track diseases and prevent outbreaks. A simple email from USAID halted hundreds of millions of dollars in efforts to fight several diseases globally. The full extent of the cuts is unknown, and legal challenges are underway, but much of the damage has already been done. • The United States will end vaccine funding for poor countries. The US administration intends to end financial support for GAVI.

International Health Policy

• Trump is dumping American scientists in the hands of Europeans. American science greatly improved after the emigration of numerous scientists from Europe following Nazi rule. Einstein was the clearest example. European politicians see Trump’s policies and research restrictions as an opportunity to reverse the flow. European Union science ministers want immediate action. Granting refuge to American scientists is part of a new urgency in Europe. Europe spends 2% of its GDP on R&D compared to 3.6% in the US.
• The Trump administration is abruptly cutting billions in public health services. The Department of Health has cut $12 billion from grants for mental illness, infectious diseases, and other health problems.
• 10,000 federal healthcare workers will be laid off, as announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The federal health care system employs approximately 82,000 people. Two agencies are the most affected: the FDA and the CDC.
• What is the future of British hospitals? Boris Johnson’s announced program to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is no longer going to be met. Priorities have changed, with spending now directed more toward the community than to hospitals. Between 2006 and 2022, the percentage of the NHS budget spent on hospitals increased from 47% to 58%, decreasing funding for primary and community care. The face of hospitals will change: they will increasingly operate outside their walls; there will be “command centers” to coordinate care; others will operate as campuses that include primary care and clinical research laboratories. Staff will rotate more among hospital networks and spend more time in hospital satellites. The government needs to decide what it wants for the hospitals of the future.

National Health Policy (Spain)

• AIREF report on administrative mutualism. The report is highly disappointing. The summary is that it acknowledges that the MUFACE model is cheaper than the public system, and that closing it would increase spending and lengthen waiting lists. Despite all this, it recommends that new civil servants join the public system directly. This is the opposite of an independent, analytical report, studying the model’s problems as well as its advantages, making some recommendations for improvement. It assesses the model in the context of the Spanish healthcare system and considers the importance of having private insurers involved in the public service, etc. A perfectly dispensable report.
• Experts call for the creation of a National Cancer Registry in Spain. Its absence limits data collection and analysis.

Companies

• International
  • Due to pressure from Trump, pharmaceutical companies are committing investments of more than 80 billion euros in the USA. The USA represents 61% of sales in the top ten global markets.
• National
  • HM Hospitals, a leader in private healthcare. Nearly 120,000 surgeries and more than 4 million consultations consolidate HM Hospitals’ position.

Biomedicine

• New antibiotic that kills drug-resistant bacteria discovered in a technician’s garden. And it’s not toxic to human cells. These molecules attack the ribosomes of bacteria. The need for new antibiotics is clear, as bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics as they are used. In 2021, it is believed that 1.1 million deaths globally are attributable to bacterial resistance, and this figure could reach 1.9 million by 2050 (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00945-z)
• Colorectal cancer screening. This tumor is the second leading cause of cancer death globally. A study has been published in The Lancet comparing colorectal cancer deaths in people with the most common early diagnosis methods: colonoscopy or stool blood screening. There are no differences in mortality. (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00619-1/fulltext)
• A study confirms the value of the fecal occult blood test for colon cancer screening (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-03-28/un-estudio-constata-el-valor-del-test-de-sangre-oculta-en-heces-para-el-cribado-del-cancer-de-colon.html). Access the original article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00288-0/abstract?rss=yes
• How harmful are e-cigarettes? Although vaping restrictions are multiplying (Belgium, France, etc.), the risks of vaping may outweigh its benefits. Researchers believe vaping is far less dangerous than smoking. Seventy substances have been linked to cancer in tobacco. Vaping also contains some of these pathogens, but in much lower concentrations. A review of 39 studies shows no increased incidence of cancer in vapers who have never smoked (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/03/21/how-harmful-are-electronic-cigarettes). Access the original article: https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Evidence-update-on-the-cancer-risk-of-vaping-e-cigarettes-A-systematic-review,192934,0,2.html
• British experts urge prioritizing research into 24 families of pathogens that cause infectious diseases (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/25/uk-experts-urge-prioritising-research-into-24-types-of-deadly-pathogen-families)
• Scientists unveil a small robot capable of detecting and treating intestinal cancer. Scientists have developed this small device capable of providing 3D images of the digestive tract and enabling early diagnosis of this type of cancer, the second leading cause of death among cancers. (https://www.ft.com/content/ce224ad0-003f-4d96-8df7-b93abbe90b5a). Access the original article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adq4198
• Researchers develop AI tool capable of diagnosing celiac disease. Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose, taking years. Until now, it has been diagnosed by duodenal biopsy. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered an AI algorithm that is effective in diagnosing this disease. This has the potential to radically change the diagnosis of this disease (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/27/coeliac-disease-diagnosis-ai-tool)
• New drug for lower back pain could be a game changer. This drug is based on antibiotics rather than painkillers. The drug, called PP353, is developed by Persical Pharmaceuticals (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/28/new-drug-for-lower-back-pain-could-be-a-gamechanger)
• The FDA approves artificial blood vessels, despite many warnings (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/health/fda-artificial-blood-vessel-trauma-humacyte.html)
• A macro-study detects eight dietary patterns that contribute to a healthy old age (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-03-24/un-macroestudio-detecta-ocho-patrones-dieteticos-que-ayudan-a-llegar-a-una-vejez-saludable.html). Access the original article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03570-5
• 60 genes linked to congenital heart disease identified (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/03/24/67e151defdddffd9648b4599.html)

Global Health

• Trump’s cuts damage global efforts to track diseases and prevent outbreaks. A simple email from USAID halted hundreds of millions of dollars in efforts to fight several global diseases. The full extent of the cuts is unknown, and legal challenges are underway, but much of the damage has already been done (https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-cuts-damage-global-efforts-track-diseases-prevent-outbreaks)
• A faster rollout of the malaria vaccine can save many lives. Vaccines are a vital tool to prevent children from getting sick in many countries. Two vaccines are currently in use. The problem, according to GAVI, is that at this rate, it will take a decade to vaccinate all children under three who are at greatest risk of malaria (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/03/24/a-faster-rollout-of-malaria-vaccines-would-save-many-lives)
• The United States will end vaccine funding for poor countries. The US administration intends to end financial support for GAVI (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/usaid-cuts-gavi-bird-flu.html)
• UNAIDS warns that the AIDS pandemic will resurge after Trump’s sudden cuts. The director of UNAIDS says Trump’s cuts will have a “devastating impact” (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/03/24/67e14859e4d4d86b4c8b4581.html)
• The WHO plans to cut jobs after losing a fifth of its funding. The US contribution accounted for 18% of the budget (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-03-29/la-oms-se-propone-recortar-empleos-tras-perder-la-quinta-parte-de-su-financiacion.html)

International Health Policy

• USA
  • Trump is dumping American scientists into the hands of Europeans. American science improved greatly after the emigration of numerous scientists from Europe following Nazi rule. Einstein was the clearest example. European politicians see Trump’s policies and research restrictions as an opportunity to reverse the flow. The European Union’s science ministers want immediate action. Providing refuge for American scientists is part of a new urgency in Europe. Europe spends 2% of its GDP on R&D compared to 3.6% in the US (https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/03/27/trump-is-driving-american-scientists-into-europes-arms)
  • 75% of scientists responding to the Nature survey are considering leaving. Of the 1,200 scientists who responded to Nature, 75% are considering leaving the US following Trump’s policies. Their desired destinations would be Europe and Canada (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00938-y)
  • The Trump administration is abruptly cutting billions in public health services. The Department of Health has cut $12 billion for grants on mental illness, infectious diseases, and other health issues (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/trump-state-health-grants-cuts.html)
  • 10,000 federal health workers will be laid off, as announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The federal health administration employs approximately 82,000 people. Two agencies are the hardest hit: the FDA and the CDC (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/us/politics/health-department-job-layoffs-rfk-jr.html)
  • Senior scientists believe that ongoing lines of research, such as those on obesity, heart disease, and cancer, will be slowed by Trump’s policies (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/health/nih-doge-trump.html)

• United Kingdom and the National Health Service
  • What is the future of British hospitals? Boris Johnson’s announced program of building 40 new hospitals by 2030 will no longer be met. Priorities have changed, and spending is now directed more toward the community than to hospitals. Between 2006 and 2022, the percentage of the NHS budget spent on hospitals increased from 47% to 58%, decreasing funding for primary and community care. The face of hospitals will change: they will increasingly operate outside their walls; there will be “command centers” to coordinate care; others will operate as campuses that include primary care and clinical research laboratories. Staff will rotate more among hospital networks and spend more time in hospital satellites. The government needs to decide what it wants for the hospitals of the future (https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/03/27/what-is-the-future-of-british-hospitals)
  • The Nuffield Trust’s response to the Spring statement. This statement estimated a 2% growth in the NHS budget next year. It is considered that in recent years the government has consistently underestimated the financial requirements to respond to patient needs and demands (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/nuffield-trust-response-to-the-spring-statement)

• France
  • The government sets the same fee increase for public and private hospitals (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/03/24/hopitaux-le-gouvernement-fixe-les-memes-tarifs-aux-etablissements-publics-et-prives_6585608_3224.html)

• Netherlands
  • 5.8% of deaths in 2024 in the Netherlands were due to euthanasia (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-03-24/el-58-de-las-muertes-registradas-en-2024-en-paises-bajos-fue-por-eutanasia.html)

• European Union
  • Cancer in Europe: stable healthcare investment and lower mortality. Cancer mortality in people under 65 has decreased significantly over the past three decades, while the proportion of spending has remained stable at around 6-7% (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/politica/cancer-europa-inversion-sanitaria-mantiene-estable-baja-mortalidad-menores-65-anos.html). Access the original document: https://www.farmaindustria.es/web/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/ihe-comparator-report-on-cancer-in-europe-2025.pdf

• OECD
  • Countries with strengthened primary care reduce avoidable hospitalizations by 20% (https://www.consalud.es/profesionales/paises-atencion-primaria-reforzada-reducen-hospitalizaciones-evitables_156183_102.html)

• WHO
  • The WHO launches its 25 rapid measures to reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Europe within 5 years (https://diariofarma.com/2025/03/24/la-oms-lanza-sus-25-medidas-rapidas-para-reducir-en-5-anos-el-impacto-de-la-ent-en-europa)

National Health Policy

• Initiatives and news from the autonomous communities.
  • An app will connect patients and pharmacists in Catalonia. Promoted by the Council of Colleges of Pharmacists of Catalonia. It will allow access to dispensing history (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/comunitaria/app-conectara-pacientes-farmaceuticos-cataluna.html)
  • Basque medical certification will be decided by the Constitutional Court. The Basque Country will file an appeal before this Court (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/autonomias/pais-vasco/euskadi-peleara-en-el-constitucional-el-traspaso-de-la-homologacion-medica-3325)
  • Home hospitalization is being promoted in the Canary Islands. A new professional category has been created, with this name (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/canarias/categoria-hospitalizacion-domicilio-realidad-en-canarias-consolida-modelo_156437_102.html)
  • Digital Health Plan in the Balearic Islands. The implementation of the plan will be phased. There are 41 initiatives that will be implemented in the short term, throughout this year and next; 26 medium-term projects (2027-2028) and five long-term projects, in 2029. (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/son-nueve-primeros-proyectos-plan-estrategico-salud-digital-baleares-2025-2029.html)
  • Asturias: Mental Health Plan (https://www.consalud.es/especiales/anuario-consalud/anuario-consalud-concepcion-saavedra-asturias-sanidad-salud-mental_156097_102.html)
  • Physician exclusivity: this will be a law in Asturias. It aims to clarify the “rules of the game” (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/autonomias/asturias/asturias-regulara-por-ley-los-conflictos-en-la-compatibilidad-medica-4515)

• MUFACE
  • AIREF report on administrative mutualism (https://www.airef.es/graficos/graficos_interactivos/01_Spending_Review/SR2226F1/2024_Mutualismo/Presentacion/spending-review-mutualismo-administrativo-ppt-web.html#/el-mutualismo-administrativo)
  • AIREF recommends transferring new mutualism members to public healthcare (https://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/2025-03-24/autoridad-fiscal-recomienda-sanidad-publica-mutualistas_4092918/)
  • The State 33% savings were achieved with MUFACE officials (https://www.vozpopuli.com/economia/airef-desmiente-gobierno-estado-ahorra-36-funcionarios-muface.html)
  • The transfer of the mutual insurance company would increase waiting lists by 30% (https://theobjective.com/economia/2025-03-25/traspaso-mutualidad-administrativo-sistema-salud-publico-listas-espera/)

• Cancer
  • Experts call for the creation of a National Cancer Registry in Spain. Its absence limits data collection and analysis at the state level (https://gacetamedica.com/politica/los-expertos-piden-la-creacion-de-un-registro-nacional-de-cancer-en-espana/)

Companies

• International News
  • Pharmaceutical companies commit investments of more than 80 billion euros in the USA. The USA represents 61% of sales in the top ten global markets (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud-bienestar/noticias/13292207/03/25/las-farma-comprometen-inversiones-de-mas-de-80000-millones-en-eeuu.html)
  • The genetic testing laboratory 23andMe files for bankruptcy (https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2025-03-25/el-laboratorio-23andme-se-declara-en-quiebra-que-pasara-con-los-datos-geneticos-de-sus-15-millones-de-clientes.html)
  • The science of immortality: 4 biotech companies are in the fight: Unity Biotechnology (UBX), Longeveron (LVGN), AgeX Therapeutics (AGE), Verve Therapeutics (VERV) (https://www.eleconomista.es/mercados-cotizaciones/noticias/13282844/03/25/la-ciencia-de-la-inmortalidad-cuatro-biotecnologicas-que-desafian-el-envejecimiento.html)
  • The European regulator declines approval of Lilly’s new Alzheimer’s drug (https://www.ft.com/content/cd789ebb-a638-470e-95b2-c7b0feadbc43)

• National
  • Sylentis, a subsidiary of Pharmamar, receives 21 million from the CDTI (Center for the Protection of Rare Diseases) for drugs for rare diseases (https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2025-03-27/sylentis-filial-de-pharmamar-recibe-21-millones-del-cdti-para-farmacos-de-enfermedades-raras.html)
  • Cofares exceeds 21 million euros 4.26 billion in sales in 2024 and consolidates its leadership (https://www.consalud.es/salud35/nacional/cofares-supera-4260-millones-en-ventas-en-2024-consolida-su-liderazgo_156312_102.html)
  • Nearly 120,000 surgeries and more than 4 million consultations consolidate HM Hospitals as a leader in private healthcare (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/empresas/grupo-hm-hospitales-crece-cirugias-consultas-2024.html)

 

 

This post is also available in: Spanish