7 days in healthcare (May 25th-31st, 2026)

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Summary

The most impactful health news of the week included:

  • Biomedicine: Leo XIV’s first encyclical attacks technological messianism.
  • Global health: Ebola can be stopped, but only if political leaders prioritize public health.
  • International health policy: Chinese advances in drug development put the country ahead of the USA.
  • National health policy: The government approves the Royal Decree on Health Technology Assessment, which is now published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
  • Business: Lilly acquires three companies to develop new vaccines.

Biomedicine

  • Leo XIV’s first encyclical attacks technological messianism, criticizing, according to an article in The Economist, two concepts very much in vogue in Silicon Valley: transhumanism and posthumanism, both linked by the attempt to “improve the species.” The encyclical argues that humanity—with all its strengths and limitations—should never be surpassed.
  • First transplant of a pig liver and kidney into a patient. Genetically modified pig organs are being used in trials in the USA and China.
  • New test detects heart risk earlier than cholesterol. Measuring the count of plaque-forming particles could refine the prevention of heart attacks and strokes, according to a recent study published in JAMA.

Global Health

  • Ebola can be stopped, but only if political leaders prioritize public health. According to a Nature editorial, this deadly disease was identified 50 years ago in the Congo. It is unacceptable that it is still causing deaths.
  • The Congo’s response to Ebola is late and chaotic. It is hard to imagine a more difficult place to control an epidemic.
  • Kenyan courts suspend US plans to transfer American patients from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kenya for Ebola quarantine.
  • A measles outbreak has killed more than 500 children in Bangladesh since March. It is the worst resurgence in decades of this preventable disease.

International Health Policy

  • Chinese advances in drug development put the country ahead of the USA. Clinical trials in China attract attention at an international oncology meeting in Chicago. Emerging Chinese biotechnology is causing alarm in the USA, as its dominance in this field may disappear.
  • The US administration advocates sending Americans exposed to Ebola to Kenya, instead of returning to the USA.

National Health Policy (Spain)

  • The government approves the Royal Decree on Health Technology Assessment, which is now published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The text of the Royal Decree on Health Technology Assessment, approved by the Council of Ministers, recognizes a full consultation process for developers and elevates the bulk of the instructions and guidelines that will govern the process to a ministerial order. In return, the Ministries of Finance, Economy, and Industry gain their own seats on the governing bodies.
  • The CNMC (National Markets and Competition Commission) has released a document on pharmacies stating that following its recommendations would save €1.8 billion annually and create 45,000 jobs. The plan is based on: promoting the use of generic drugs to levels similar to those in other European countries would save more than €1.8 billion per year; and making it easier to open pharmacies, following models like that of Navarre, would allow for the creation of 20,000 new pharmacies and 45,000 jobs within a decade. The General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges has reacted strongly.
  • Doctors across much of Spain will stop working overtime in surgery in protest against their working conditions. Physicians in Galicia, Navarre, the Basque Country, Madrid, Catalonia, La Rioja, and the Valencian Community are protesting against the excessive workload placed on their regions and the Ministry of Health.
  • Resident doctors (MIRs) will call a strike in September if there are no real changes to their working conditions. The MIR Association denounces that the Spanish healthcare system continues to function thanks to the extraordinary efforts of thousands of resident physicians.

Companies

  • International
    • Lilly acquires three companies to develop new vaccines for $3.3 billion
  • National
    • Sha, the dream that triumphed without a business plan.

Biomedicine

  • Leo XIV’s first encyclical attacks technological messianism, criticizing, according to an article in The Economist, two concepts very much in vogue in Silicon Valley: transhumanism and posthumanism, both linked by the attempt to “improve the species.” The encyclical argues that humanity—with all its strengths and limitations—should never be surpassed (https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/05/28/leos-first-encyclical-attacks-technological-messianism). Access the encyclical: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/es/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
  • First transplant of a pig liver and kidney into a patient. Genetically modified pig organs are being used in trials in the USA and China (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01708-0)
  • A new era in neurology. Neurological diseases are the leading cause of disability globally. It is a specialty that has changed radically in the last 20 years, thanks to genomics, molecular imaging, and biomarkers (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)01036-6/fulltext)
  • From hope to uncertainty: regulating new drugs for Alzheimer’s (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)01035-4/fulltext)
  • Alzheimer’s blood tests: closer to detection, before symptoms appear. New research shows the potential of analyzing Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers in middle-aged people without dementia (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/neurologia/test-alzheimer-sangre-mas-cerca-deteccion-aparezcan-sintomas.html)
  • Scientists find a potential cure for chronic hepatitis B. Most patients recover from the infection, but those who don’t are at high risk. The new medication may cure 1 in 5 of these patients (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/health/hepatitis-b-chronic-bepirovirsen.html)
  • Air pollution slows lung growth in childhood (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/29/air-pollution-slows-lung-growth-childhood-uk-study). Access the original document: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935126006080
  • The new test allows for the detection of heart disease risk earlier than cholesterol. Measuring the count of plaque-forming particles could refine the prevention of heart attacks and strokes, according to a recent study published in ‘JAMA’.
  • (https://www.elconfidencial.com/salud/2026-05-24/analisis-de-sangre-podria-predecir-riesgo-cardiaco_4345930/). Access the original document: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2026.2986
  • New recommendations from American oncologists for earlier detection of colon cancer. The American Cancer Society has updated its guidelines with two new highly sensitive stool tests and evidence on blood tests (https://www.abc.es/salud/nuevas-recomendaciones-oncologos-americanos-detectar-cancer-colon-20260527011339-nt.html)

Global Health

  • Ebola can be stopped, but only if political leaders prioritize public health. According to a Nature editorial, this deadly disease was identified 50 years ago in the Congo. It is unacceptable that it is still causing deaths (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01630-5)
  • Ebola: Three Red Cross workers die as more than 1,000 cases and 200 deaths are reported (https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-743673)
  • Congo’s response to Ebola is late and chaotic. It’s hard to imagine a more difficult place to control an epidemic (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/05/28/congos-response-to-ebola-is-late-and-chaotic)
  • Kenyan courts suspend US plans to transfer American patients to that country for quarantine (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/world/africa/us-kenya-quarantine-unit-ebola.html)
  • A measles outbreak has killed more than 500 children in Bangladesh since March. It is the worst resurgence of this preventable disease in decades (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/05/23/6a11cd14e9cf4ac3658b45ad.html)

International Health Policy

  • USA
    • The US administration advocates sending Americans exposed to Ebola to Kenya instead of returning to the US (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/28/ebola-kenya-congo-uganda-epidemic-00941790)
  • China
    • Chinese advances in drug development put the country ahead of the US. Clinical trials in China attract attention at an international oncology meeting in Chicago. Emerging Chinese biotechnology is causing alarm in the USA, as its dominance in this field may disappear (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/30/business/china-lung-cancer-drugs-asco.html)
  • France
    • The obesity treatments Wegovy and Mounjaro have been reimbursed by Social Security in France since mid-June (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2026/05/28/les-traitements-contre-l-obesite-wegovy-et-mounjaro-rembourses-des-la-mi-juin-en-france-dans-un-cadre-controle_6694430_3224.html)
  • European Union
    • According to Eurostat, cardiovascular diseases account for one-third of deaths in the EU (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/eurostat-alerta-las-enfermedades-cardiovasculares-concentran-un-tercio-de-las-muertes-en-la-ue.html)

National Health Policy

  • Central Administration
    • The government has approved the Royal Decree on Health Technology Assessment, which is now published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The text of the Royal Decree on Health Technology Assessment, approved by the Council of Ministers, recognizes a full consultation process for developers and elevates the bulk of the instructions and guidelines that will govern the process to a ministerial order. In return, the Ministries of Finance, Economy, and Industry gain their own seats on the governing bodies (https://diariofarma.com/2026/05/29/claves-del-rd-de-ets-garantias-reforzadas-para-desarrolladores-y-mas-peso-de-hacienda). Access the text of the Official State Gazette (BOE): https://elglobalfarma.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BOE-A-2026-11587.pdf
    • Congress approves the new pharmaceutical co-payment model (https://elglobalfarma.com/farmacia/copago-farmaceutico-congreso-convalida-nuevo-modelo/)
    • The Ministry of Health is preparing the specialty of infectious diseases, together with scientific societies and FACME. Currently, Spain is the only EU country, along with Cyprus, that does not have this specialty (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260527/sanidad-prepara-especialidad-enfermedades-infecciosas-junto-sociedades-cientificas-facme/1003744262691_0.html)
    • The government approves a budget of €172.4 million for the Strategic Framework for Primary Care (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/05/26/6a1578f0e4d4d83d268b458e.html)
  • Regional governments
    • Madrid announces the Vive Sanitario plan, affordable rentals for doctors. The plan, as explained by the president of the Community of Madrid, is aimed at professionals under 35 years of age with the idea of ​​attracting and retaining medical talent (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/profesion/madrid-diaz-ayuso-anuncia-plan-vive-sanitario-alquileres-precio-asequible-medicos.html)
    • Asturias approves the Mental Health bill, focused on rights and prevention (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/asturias-aprueba-proyecto-ley-salud-mental-centrado-derechos-prevencion.html)
  • CNMC and pharmacies
    • The CNMC publishes a document on pharmacies and says that if its recommendations were followed, 1.8 billion euros per year would be saved and 45,000 jobs would be created. The plan is based on: Boosting the use of generic medicines to levels similar to those of other European countries would allow savings of more than 1.8 billion euros per year; and, making the opening of pharmacies more flexible, following models such as that of Navarra, would allow the creation of 20,000 new pharmacies and 45,000 jobs in a decade (https://www.cnmc.es/index.php/prensa/impacto-estudios-medicamentos-20260525). Access to the original CNMC document: (https://www.cnmc.es/sites/default/files/6595060.pdf), access to the press release: (https://www.cnmc.es/sites/default/files/6593897.pdf), access to the infographic (https://www.cnmc.es/sites/default/files/6593897.pdf)
    • Response from the General Council of Pharmaceutical Associations: The General Council of Pharmaceutical Associations strongly rejects the previous reports and the new attempt by the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) to promote a liberalization of the pharmacy sector that is out of touch with the health and social reality of Spain. https://elglobalfarma.com/farmacia/cgcof-alerta-cnmc-liberalizacion-riesgo-acceso-equitativo-medicamentos/
  • Medical conflict over the Medical Statute
    • Mónica García seeks approval for the Medical Statute at the next Council of Ministers meeting, with doctors up in arms (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/05/27/6a1711d9e9cf4a47088b4589.html)
    • Doctors across much of Spain will stop working overtime in surgery in protest against their working conditions. Doctors in Galicia, Navarre, the Basque Country, Madrid, Catalonia, La Rioja, and the Valencian Community are protesting against the excessive workload imposed on their regions and the Ministry of Health (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2026-05-29/medicos-de-media-espana-dejaran-de-hacer-horas-extra-de-cirugia-en-protesta-por-sus-condiciones-laborales.html)
  • Resident Doctors (MIRs)
    • Resident doctors will call a strike in September if there are no real changes to their working conditions. The MIR Association denounces that the Spanish healthcare system continues to function thanks to the excessive effort of thousands of resident doctors (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260526/mir-convocaran-huelga-indefinida-septiembre-no-cambios-reales-condiciones-laborales/1003744259943_0.html)
  • Doctors without a specialty
    • FACME denounces the hiring of doctors without a specialty. The president of the Federation of Spanish Scientific Medical Associations expresses medical concern over the validation of degrees held by 30,000 foreigners (https://www.abc.es/sociedad/cristina-avendano-facme-utilizacion-perversa-excepcion-contratar-20260531013142-nt.html)
  • Aging and pensions
    • Aging and pensions will push public spending beyond 50% of GDP (https://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/2026-05-30/envejecimiento-pensiones-elevaran-gasto-publico-mitad-pib_4364387/)

Companies

  • International
    • The US regulator delays its decision on AstraZeneca’s new breast cancer drug (https://www.ft.com/content/eee16583-a048-4060-8d47-d764e6b6d4de?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Lilly acquires three companies to develop new vaccines for $3.3 billion (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260527/lilly-adquiere-companias-desarrollar-nuevas-vacunas-enfermedades-infecciosas-millones/1003744260790_0.html)
    • Ozempic and AI, the recipe with which healthcare hopes to recover on the stock market in 2026. (https://cincodias.elpais.com/mercados-financieros/2026-05-31/ozempic-e-ia-la-receta-con-la-que-la-salud-quiere-remontar-en-bolsa-en-2026.html)
  • National News
    • Sha, the dream that triumphed without a business plan. A pilgrimage site for celebrities and executives seeking well-being, it arose from an illness in the Bataller family and has been the driving force behind diversification into the hospitality and luxury real estate sectors (https://www.expansion.com/valencia/2026/05/29/6a1884f0e5fdea620c8b456e.html)

 

 

 

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