Summary

The most impactful health news of the week included:

• Biomedicine: Scientists are more optimistic about overcoming the global shortage of organs for transplantation.
• Global health: Fossil fuel projects worldwide threaten the lives of 2 billion people.
• International health policy: Obamacare could collapse under Trump’s new plan.
• National health policy: The Prime Minister uses his Wednesday parliamentary address to attack public-private partnerships in healthcare.
• Business: Pharmaceutical companies’ flattery of Trump could open a European front.

Biomedicine

• Scientists are more optimistic about overcoming the global shortage of organs for transplantation. A meeting in Geneva confirmed that xenotransplantation is now within reach.
• A second wave of anti-obesity drugs is on the way. GLP-1 agonists are projected to reach $54 billion in sales by 2024. These drugs, sold under the brand names Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, not only allow for weight loss but also have beneficial effects on the heart, liver, and kidneys. The variety of options will increase in 2026, with Novo Nordisk and Lilly preparing pill versions.

Global Health

• Fossil fuel projects worldwide threaten the lives of 2 billion people. A quarter of the world’s population lives within 5 km of such projects, which potentially threaten their health.
• Childhood hypertension has doubled in 20 years and is now a global health problem. Researchers attribute this to lifestyle factors: diet and obesity.

International Health Policy

• Obamacare could collapse under Trump’s new plan, according to political experts. Republicans say that giving the money directly to citizens would give them more control over their coverage. It seems clear that the government shutdown ended in failure for the Democrats, who not only emerged divided but also failed to reach any agreement on healthcare and are handing Trump the complete repeal of Obamacare on a silver platter.
• The agreement to end the government shutdown puts the healthcare of 24 million people at risk. Republicans are only committing to a vote in December to see if subsidies will continue.
• China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or declining for the past 18 months. Good news, considering that China is the world’s largest carbon emitter.
• The WHO director has a message for Trump. He says Trump should reconsider the US withdrawal from the organization.
• The WHO warns of the tobacco industry’s “attempts to infiltrate” meetings. Days before the anti-tobacco convention meeting, the WHO is commenting on the tobacco industry’s new strategies (e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, and other alternative products). The WHO statement says that “there is no evidence that they benefit public health and growing evidence of their harm.”

National Health Policy (Spain)

• Sánchez uses his Wednesday parliamentary address to attack public-private partnerships in healthcare. It is hardly tenable to criticize an entire sector from such an important platform, a sector that has undergone significant modernization and growth, and which comprises hundreds of centers, thousands of workers, and serves millions of Spaniards.
• The government will take Ayuso to court over the list of conscientious objectors to abortion. An administrative lawsuit against the Community of Madrid is announced.
• The polarization of society in Spain extends to health issues. Pilar Astier, the Spaniard who will preside over the World Federation of Family Doctors, says that “polarization harms health.”
• The Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (SNS) approves the Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the SNS. Its objective is to coordinate the use of AI in the healthcare system. To this end, a shared governance model is established between the Ministry of Health and the Autonomous Communities.
• The Ministry and the Autonomous Communities agree to share screening data using three basic indicators. The Ministry accepts that the Autonomous Communities can send information “in any format” regarding the population invited to participate in the screenings, how many respond, and how many test positive. This is good news, which helps to lower the still very high level of polarization.
• The government agrees to close all poultry farms in Spain due to avian flu. This is the maximum safety measure. Fourteen outbreaks have been identified, which has forced the culling of 2.5 million chickens.
• Doctors again take to the streets in Madrid and other capital cities to protest Mónica García’s Framework Statute. The CESM and SMA unions are organizing a march, ahead of the four-day strike called for next December. Regardless of the unions’ reasons, the law’s approval is highly unlikely.

Companies

• International
  • Pharmaceutical companies’ flattery of Trump could open a European front. Executives at major pharmaceutical companies are bowing to Trump, as the US is their most important market. The application of the “most favored nation” clause could force a drop of up to 90% in the price of medicines in the US, which could lead to their withdrawal from Europe to avoid comparisons.
  • Rise and fall of Novo Nordisk, which was once the most valuable company in Europe and has fallen to twelfth place.

• National
  • Open legal proceedings delay the start of construction on the Quirón hospital in Gijón. The CSI (Leftist Trade Union Current) has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court requesting the annulment of the agreement between the City Council and the company. Quirón made its intentions clear four years ago regarding the construction of a hospital in Gijón.

Biomedicine

• HealthLocator: A public digital tool for navigating quality of care options. Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a patient tool that integrates publicly available data on outcomes, patient experience, and safety into a single indicator to aid in hospital selection (https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.25.0296).
• A second wave of obesity drugs is on the way. Known as GLP-1 agonists, these drugs are projected to reach $54 billion in sales in 2024. Marketed under names such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, they not only promote weight loss but also have beneficial effects on the heart, liver, and kidneys. The range of options will increase in 2026, with Novo Nordisk and Lilly preparing pill-based options (https://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead/2025/11/10/a-second-helping-of-weight-loss-drugs-is-coming)
• Scientists are more optimistic about overcoming the global shortage of organs for transplantation. A meeting in Geneva found that xenotransplantation is now within reach (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/health/pig-organs-transplants.html)
• A new malaria drug promises to defeat resistant strains. A new drug developed by Novartis will help flatten the curve of this disease’s spread in Africa and Asia (https://www.ft.com/content/9070de50-7f26-450f-81c3-6bba45d45bb1)
• Neural data could be the most valuable information of the decade. New technology will allow us to read our most private thoughts (https://www.ft.com/content/cc0c19e5-fcbc-4324-bf38-34bee0e77842)
• Research refutes the idea that the microbiome causes autism. The study has been published in the journal Nature (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-11-13/una-investigacion-rechaza-que-el-microbioma-cause-autismo-no-esta-justificado-dedicar-mas-tiempo-y-recursos-a-esta-hipotesis.html)
• An inexpensive drug used for gout reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. A study shows that low-dose colchicine is beneficial for people with cardiovascular disease (https://www.abc.es/salud/enfermedades/farmaco-barato-usado-gota-reduce-riesgo-infarto-20251113092843-nt.html)
• NextBrain, a brain atlas that reveals subregions for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. From Harvard, a team led by the Spaniard Juan Eugenio Iglesias publishes in Nature a high-definition tool that dissects the brain, useful in daily clinical practice (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/11/16/69176566e4d4d83d388b45a2.html)

Global Health

• Fossil fuel projects around the world threaten the lives of 2 billion people. A quarter of the world’s population lives within 5 km of these projects, which potentially threaten their health (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/12/fossil-fuel-projects-health-research)
• Childhood hypertension has doubled in 20 years and is now a global health problem. Researchers attribute this to lifestyle factors: diet and obesity (https://www.elconfidencial.com/salud/2025-11-13/tasas-hipertension-infantil_4245970/)
• Official statistics underestimate deaths from extreme weather. Research reveals that many more deaths are caused by torrential rains and floods (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03669-2)
• Mpox in Kenya, which is experiencing its first pandemic of this disease (https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(25)02314-1.pdf)
• Failure is not an option for the new African Medicines Agency. The unequal distribution of vaccines during COVID-19 demonstrates the need to increase production capacity and specific regulation in this area (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03668-3)
• Avoiding the climate “ambition trap.” China has reduced its emissions levels, although some say its ambition is limited (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aed3356)
• Malaria is resurging in Myanmar, raising alarm bells. Cuts in aid funding are undermining eradication efforts (https://www.ft.com/content/6d5e15e4-cff4-415c-996a-643f67bcaef1)
• Healthcare in Gaza remains in critical condition a month after the ceasefire. There is a shortage of medicines, surgical supplies, and diagnostic equipment (https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2025-11-14/la-sanidad-en-gaza-continua-en-cuidados-intensivos-un-mes-despues-del-alto-el-fuego-esto-no-es-vida-esta-realidad-se-parece-a-la-muerte.html)

International Health Policy

• USA
  • The agreement to end the government shutdown puts the health of 24 million people at risk. Republicans are only committing to a vote in December to see if the subsidies will continue (https://elpais.com/us/2025-11-11/el-acuerdo-para-acabar-con-el-cierre-del-gobierno-pone-en-riesgo-la-sanidad-de-24-millones-de-personas.html)
  • Trump secures the support of 8 Democratic senators to proceed with reopening the government, reaching 60 out of 40 votes, to end the shutdown that has already lasted 40 days (https://www.eldiario.es/internacional/trump-logra-voto-punado-senadores-democratas-acabar-cierre-gobierno-garantizar-ayudas-sanitarias_1_12754636.html)
  • The White House knows it must act to make healthcare economically affordable. Talks among senior administration officials about how to end Obamacare and replace it with another approach are in the preliminary stages (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/13/the-white-house-knows-it-needs-to-act-on-health-care-affordability-heres-whats-on-the-table-00649118)
  • Obamacare could collapse under Trump’s new plan, according to political experts. Republicans say that giving the money directly to citizens would give them more control over their coverage (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/11/obamacare-could-collapse-under-trumps-new-plan-policy-experts-say-00647246)
  • Food stamps are back, but millions will permanently lose the benefits (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/15/food-stamps-snap-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-impact-00653447)

• China
  • China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or declining over the past 18 months. Good news, considering that China is the world’s largest carbon emitter (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/11/china-co2-emissions-flat-or-falling-for-past-18-months-analysis-finds)

• United Kingdom
  • Is the NHS on the road to recovery? The waiting list, a closely watched and valued indicator, fell slightly: from 7.41 million in August to 7.39 million in September (https://www.ft.com/content/72bd88d9-fb5d-4f7e-8c34-47ca509994d8)
  • The NHS is in crisis, should I pay for health insurance? According to the author of this article, BUPA’s 15% premium increase led them to cancel their policy (https://www.ft.com/content/69e31e83-1723-4d06-a3a4-f73b6880138f)

• Canada
  • Canada is no longer a measles-free country after almost 30 years, more than 5,000 cases, and two deaths. This coincides with a decline in vaccination rates (https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20251112/canada-deja-pais-libre-sarampion-anos-casos-vacunadosydosmuertes/1003744008116_0.html)

• World Health Organization
  • The WHO Director-General has a message for Trump. He says Trump should reconsider the US withdrawal from the organization (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/09/world-health-organization-tedros-trump-un-global-health-00641160)
  • The WHO warns of the tobacco industry’s “attempts to infiltrate” meetings. Days before the anti-tobacco convention meeting, the WHO speaks out about the tobacco industry’s new strategies (e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, and other alternative products). The WHO statement says that “there is no evidence that they benefit public health and growing evidence of their harm” (https://www.diariomecom/medicina/medicina-preventiva/oms-advierte-intentos-industria-tabaquera-infiltrarse-reuniones.html)

• European Union
  • Europe cannot be left out of basic health needs. The Hungarian government is sponsoring MEHA (Make Europe Healthy Again), similar to the American initiative, with anti-vaccine messaging. However, Europe faces significant challenges, as highlighted in the “2024 European Health Report” (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02270-6/fulltext?rss=yes). Access the 2024 European Health Report: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2025-10668-50440-76183

National Health Policy

• Impact of General Policy on Healthcare
  • Sánchez denigrates private healthcare to attack Ayuso. The president uses his Wednesday parliamentary address to attack public-private partnerships in healthcare (https://www.larazon.es/salud/sanchez-denigra-sanidad-privada-atacar-ayuso_2025111669192475eba8bc0ece00f92b.html)
  • The government will take Ayuso to court over the list of conscientious objectors to abortion. An administrative lawsuit has been announced against the Community of Madrid (https://www.elespanol.com/espana/20251115/monica-garcia-anuncia-llevara-ayuso-tribunales-negarse-crear-registro-medicos-objetores-conciencia/1003744015380_0.html)
  • The polarization of society in Spain is extending to health issues. Pilar Astier, the Spanish woman who will preside over the world’s family doctors, says that “polarization damages health” (https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/20251113/polarizacion-sociedad-espana-extiende-temas-salud-supone-grave-amenaza/1003744010075_0.html). Article published in Science Advances, demonstrating which factors cause polarization to harm health: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ady5064

• Central Government Initiatives
  • The Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (NHS) approves the Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the NHS. Its objective is to coordinate the use of AI in the healthcare system. To this end, a shared governance model is established between the Ministry of Health and the Autonomous Communities (https://www.sanidad.gob.es/gabinete/notasPrensa.do)
  • The Interterritorial Council of the National Health System approves the Cybersecurity Strategy 2025-2028, a key document to address the growing number of attacks and ensure the confidentiality of medical records (https://www.consalud.es/politica/ministerio-sanidad/el-gobierno-aprueba-la-estrategia-de-ciberseguridad-2025-2028-para-blindar-los-datos-del-sns.html)
  • The Ministry and the Autonomous Communities agree to share screening data with three basic indicators. The Ministry accepts that the autonomous communities can send information “in any format” about the population they invite to screenings, how many respond, and how many test positive (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/ministerio-ccaa-acuerdan-compartir-datos-cribados-tres-indicadores-basicos.html)

• Initiatives of the autonomous communities
  • Catalonia, the first community to launch the national AI plan in healthcare. A €27 million agreement will be signed between Óscar López and Salvador Illa (https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2025-11-13/cataluna-primera-comunidad-en-arrancar-el-plan-de-estatal-de-implantacion-de-inteligencia-artificial-en-la-sanidad.html)
  • Catalonia is the region where the waiting list is growing the most, by 8%, while in Castile and León it is falling by 20% (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20251108/cataluna-region-sube-tiempo-espera-operarse-castilla-leon-cae/1003744004747_0.html)

• Avian flu
  • Government agreement to close all farms in Spain due to avian flu. This is the maximum safety measure. Fourteen outbreaks have been identified, forcing the culling of 2.5 million chickens (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/gobierno-confina-explotaciones-aves-corral-aire-libre-gripe-aviar_20251113691598e1360d0840bcd57145.html)
  • Avian flu in Spain: how it spreads, detected cases and risk areas (https://www.elcomercio.es/economia/gripe-aviar-espana-contagia-casos-detectados-zonas-20251113140332-ntrc.html)

• The controversy over breast cancer screening in Andalusia
  • The Andalusian Regional Government goes on the offensive against Amama and officially requests data on the 4,000 people affected by the screenings. The Regional Ministry claims that the figures released by Amama do not correspond to the official figures from the Administration (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-11-13/la-junta-de-andalucia-requiere-a-amama-la-informacion-de-las-4000-mujeres-afectadas-por-los-fallos-en-los-cribados.html)

• Framework Statute
  • Doctors again take to the streets in Madrid and other capital cities to protest Mónica García’s Framework Statute. The CESM and SMA unions are organizing a march, ahead of the four-day strike called for next December (https://www.elconfidencial.com/salud/2025-11-14/manifestacion-medicos-estatuto-marco_4247377/)

• CAR-T Therapy Strategy
  • This strategy is progressing; 14 regions offer it, and there are already more than 40 authorized centers. Extremadura, La Rioja and Castilla-La Mancha are the three regions that still do not have these treatments in public centers (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20251112/estrategia-publica-terapias-car-t-avanza-comunidades-ofrecen-centros-autorizados/1003744008737_0.html)

Companies

• International
  • A new pill from Merck may lower cholesterol levels, according to trials, potentially giving millions of people a more affordable way to reduce their risk of heart disease (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/health/merck-cholesterol-pill-pcsk9.html)
  • The “most favored nation” clause faces legal and operational hurdles for the pharmaceutical industry, according to an analysis by David Cantarero, professor at the University of Cantabria (https://elglobalfarma.com/industria/clausula-nacion-mas-favorecida-obstaculos-legales-operativos-industria-farmaceutica/)
  • Pharmaceutical companies’ flattery of Trump could open a European front. Executives at major pharmaceutical companies are bowing to Trump, given that the US is their most important market. The application of the “most favored nation” clause could force a drop of up to 90% in the price of medicines in the USA, which could lead to their withdrawal from Europe to avoid comparisons (https://cincodias.elpais.com/opinion/2025-11-12/la-adulacion-de-las-farmaceuticas-a-trump-puede-abrir-un-frente-europeo.html)
  • The rise and fall of Novo Nordisk, which was once the most valuable company in Europe and has now fallen to twelfth place (https://cincodias.elpais.com/mercados-financieros/2025-11-13/auge-y-caida-de-novo-nordisk-la-que-fue-empresa-mas-valiosa-de-europa-y-ha-bajado-al-decimotercer-puesto.html)
  • The courts accept the €6.369 billion agreement addressing the role Purdue Pharma’s role in the opioid crisis (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20251114/justicia-acepta-acuerdo-millones-aborda-papel-purdue-pharma-crisis-opiaceos/1003744015122_0.html)

• National News
  • Almirall’s shares soar by up to 10% on the stock market, as sales improve by 12.8% (https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2025-11-10/almirall-se-dispara-hasta-un-10-en-bolsa_4244833/)
  • Grifols restructures its €1.3 billion debt to facilitate refinancing (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud-bienestar/noticias/13638750/11/25/grifols-armoniza-su-deuda-de-1300-millones-para-facilitar-su-refinanciacion.html)
  • Open legal proceedings delay the start of construction on the Quirón hospital in Gijón. The CSI (Leftist Trade Union Current) has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court requesting the annulment of the agreement between the City Council and the company. It has been four years since Quirón expressed its interest in building a hospital in Gijón (https://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/procesos-judiciales-abiertos-retrasan-inicio-hospital-quiron-20251109000227-nt.html)
  • The pharmaceutical company Medichem (which will create 30 jobs) is finalizing its construction in Asturias (https://www.lne.es/llanera/2025/11/11/farmaceutica-medichem-ultima-obras-nave-123565351.html)

This post is also available in: Spanish