7 days in healthcare (February 8th-15th, 2026)

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Summary

The most impactful health news of the week included:

  • Biomedicine: Obesity is linked to a 70% higher risk of serious infections.
  • Global Health: African countries must take control of their health policies.
  • International Health Policy: Trump revokes the greenhouse gas emissions assessment and intensifies the climate offensive.
  • National Health Policy: The government approves a bill intended to curb public management of healthcare. A complete absurdity and a compendium of sectarianism.
  • Business: Corporate health insurance becomes 10% more expensive, straining company budgets.

Biomedicine

  • Obesity is linked to a 70% higher risk of serious infections, including influenza and pneumonia.
  • The end of animals in medical experimentation? Both the US and UK governments are calling for an end to the use of animals in experimentation. But we must ask ourselves whether this approach is realistic and will not hinder research progress. The approach is based on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). But until researchers find a model that allows them to model the entire human body, it will be difficult to do without animal experimentation.

Global Health

  • African countries must take control of their health policies. Massive aid cuts are having a devastating short-term effect, but they can help build more resilient systems in the long term.
  • Peru has had to recall thousands of cancer drugs due to contamination, interrupting cancer treatments. The Andean country has imported at least 118,000 vials of chemotherapy drugs that have ended up being discarded after failing quality tests since 2019, according to an investigation. One in four cancer patients has their treatment delayed due to drug shortages.

International Health Policy

  • Trump revokes the greenhouse gas emissions assessment and deepens the climate offensive. The revocation of the hazard assessment approved this Thursday by US President Donald Trump, issued in 2009 establishing that six greenhouse gases are harmful, is the latest in a series of measures by the Republican that run counter to efforts to curb climate change.
  • An important article in The Lancet by a group of prestigious academics analyzes the aspirations and implementation of the 10-year Health Plan for NHS England. The plan, published in July 2025, contains a series of policies, ambitions, and objectives. A chapter on implementation is expected.

National Health Policy (Spain)

  • The new law with which the government wants to curb private management of public healthcare, approved last Tuesday by the Council of Ministers, aims to limit forms of private participation in the public service. The text explicitly prohibits models of construction concessions with subsequent management of the hospital. The draft bill has been made public, giving a deadline of March 4th for submitting contributions to the Ministry. The text is a complete anti-European absurdity, with a ridiculous “scientific” approach in the preamble, a compendium of sectarianism, and harmful to the public healthcare sector. Its only redeeming quality is that it will never be approved, as that is not the intention; rather, it is to generate propaganda by publishing draft bills for which the government lacks a majority and, incidentally, to wage a political battle within “Más Madrid.”
  • Thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid against Ayuso’s healthcare policy. The demonstrators, called by unions and neighborhood associations on February 9th, demanded that the regional government halt the privatization of services, chanting “Either you have the checkbook or you’re going to the other side.”
  • The Community of Madrid has forgiven 71 million euros to private companies after they assumed responsibility for treating its patients. An internal document from the Ayuso government confirms that the public healthcare system loses millions every year by not billing private hospitals for many of the treatments it provides for its patients.
  • Castilla-La Mancha launches the H3.0 health plan with an emphasis on data management. It is a new healthcare model committed to integrating AI, robotics, data analytics, and precision and genomic medicine.
  • Some 5,000 doctors in Madrid are demanding the resignation of Mónica García and a specific Framework Statute for their profession. The demonstration on February 14th is a prelude to the five-day strike planned for next week, the first of five strikes scheduled until July. Whatever it may be called, doctors, whose doctor-patient relationship is the core of any healthcare system, need a distinct dialogue. Experience over the years has shown that this dialogue is lost amidst a multifaceted union representation that neither understands nor wants to understand doctors’ positions. The Ministry of Health is responsible for fueling this conflict with its intransigent stance.
  • The government has signed an agreement establishing a 21% profit margin for pharmacies (6% for distribution), to be reviewed every two years. Royal Decree 90/2026 on the financing and pricing of healthcare products introduces significant changes to their funding. The final text sets a 21% margin for pharmacies (6% for distribution) and strengthens economic control. It also establishes a review schedule by group for products already on the market.

Companies

  • International
    • Novo Nordisk intensifies its battle against Lilly by launching Wegovy in vials. Novo Nordisk will begin marketing Wegovy, its flagship drug, in vials, abandoning the exclusivity of the plastic injection pens it has used until now. This will represent a key strategic shift in its fight for dominance in the weight-loss drug market.
  • National
    • Corporate health insurance becomes 10% more expensive, putting pressure on company budgets. Corporate spending on health will remain around 9% in 2026.

Biomedicine

  • The end of animals in medical experimentation? Both the US and UK governments are calling for an end to the use of animals in experimentation. But we must ask ourselves whether this approach is realistic and will not hinder the progress of research. The approach is based on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). But until researchers find a model that allows them to model the entire human body, it will be difficult to do without animal experimentation (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00298-9/abstract).
  • Obesity is linked to a 70% higher risk of serious infections, including influenza and pneumonia (https://www.ft.com/content/b6f8a203-c2e5-4e34-bec8-3e0111b37e16). Access the original Lancet study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02474-2/fulltext
  • 2-3 cups of coffee a day are linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s, but not if it’s decaffeinated. This conclusion was reached after following 132,000 people for 40 years (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/health/coffee-tea-dementia-risk.html). Access the original JAMA article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2844764?guestAcces%5b…%5dferral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=020926
  • The shortcomings of the ChapGPT test for medical diagnosis (https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2026/02/09/les-failles-de-chatgpt-pour-l-autodiagnostic-medical-revelees-par-une-etude_6666026_4408996.html). Access the original article: https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/2cb29276-68cd-4ec6-a5f4-c01c5e7a36e9/OpenAI-AI-as-a-Healthcare-Ally-Jan-2026.pdf

Global Health

  • African countries must take control of their health policies. Massive aid cuts are having a devastating short-term effect, but can help build more resilient systems in the long run (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00381-7)
  • Peru has had to recall thousands of cancer drugs due to contamination, disrupting cancer treatments. The Andean country has imported at least 118,000 vials of chemotherapy drugs that have ended up being discarded after failing quality tests since 2019, according to an investigation. One in four cancer patients experiences delays in treatment due to drug shortages (https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2026-02-12/peru-retira-miles-de-medicamentos-importados-contra-el-cancer-por-estar-contaminados-interrumpiendo-tratamientos-vitales.html)

International Health Policy

  • USA
    • Trump revokes greenhouse gas hazard assessment and deepens climate offensive. The revocation of the hazard assessment approved this Thursday by US President Donald Trump, issued in 2009 establishing that six greenhouse gases are harmful, is the latest in a series of measures by the Republican that run counter to efforts to curb climate change. (https://www.elindependiente.com/economia/2026/02/13/trump-revoca-el-dictamen-de-peligrosidad-de-los-gases-de-efecto-invernadero-y-profundiza-su-ofensiva-climatica/)
    • The Trump Administration withdraws $600 million in healthcare funding from four Democratic states: California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/health/trump-public-health-cuts-california.html)
  • China
    • Drug use in China will double by 2030, while it stabilizes in the USA, Europe, and Japan. A new report from IQVIA highlights that the drugs that will contribute most to increased spending will be those for oncology, immunology, diabetes, and obesity (https://elglobalfarma.com/industria/medicamentos-china-duplicara-2030-europa-eeuu-japon-estabiliza/)
  • United Kingdom
    • An important article in The Lancet by a group of prestigious academics analyzes the aspirations and implementation of the 10-year Health Plan for NHS England. The plan, published in July 2025, contains a series of policies, ambitions, and objectives. A chapter on implementation is expected (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00035-8/abstract)
    • Millions of women in the UK have access to only one IVF cycle through the NHS. Health authorities continue to cut availability, despite official policies (https://www.ft.com/content/cd560417-8e6b-40fc-b23c-e305fe9fb753)
  • France
    • French people exposed to worrying levels of cadmium, lead, and aluminum through food, warns the French Agency for Health Safety (https://www.lemonde.fr/sante/article/2026/02/12/cadmium-plomb-aluminium-les-francais-exposes-a-des-niveaux-preoccupants-via-l-alimentation-alertent-les-autorites-de-sante_6666416_1651302.html)
  • India
    • A patient-centered health system for India. The Indian health system is undergoing a shift towards universal coverage, a crucial component for raising the country’s development status by 2047. The Lancet Commission has made many proposals (https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/india-citizen-health)

National Health Policy

  • Central Government Initiatives
    • The new law with which the government wants to curb private management in public healthcare, approved last Tuesday by the Council of Ministers, aims to limit forms of private participation in the public service. The text explicitly prohibits models of construction concessions with subsequent hospital management. The draft text has been made public, giving a deadline of March 4th for submitting contributions to the Ministry. The general impression is that the text will not be approved and that it is part of a policy of approving propaganda texts that then never come into effect because they are not passed (https://www.elconfidencial.com/salud/2026-02-10/nueva-ley-frenar-la-gestion-privada-en-la-sanidad-publica_4300485/)
    • Brussels questions the government’s new anti-smoking law. The European Commission and the CNMC warn the Ministry of Health of legal risks, lack of proportionality, and potential distortions of the internal market (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/bruselas-cuestiona-nueva-ley-antitabaco-monica-garcia_20260210698a83f79243cc133c3e799f.html)
    • Up to seven health initiatives hope to pass Congress, including the law to limit public-private partnerships, the tobacco law, the framework statute, the medicines law, and the alcohol law (https://www.consalud.es/politica/hasta-siete-iniciativas-sanitarias-aspiran-a-superar-el-complejo-liston-del-congreso.html)
  • Regional governments
    • A report links the precarious state of Emergency Departments in Catalonia with hospital mortality. The Catalan Audit Office and unions denounce the long waiting times and lack of resources in the region’s emergency rooms (https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/cataluna/un-informe-vincula-la-precariedad-en-las-urgencias-de-cataluna-con-la-mortalidad-hospitalaria.html)
    • The map of the Catalan healthcare system is presented, prioritizing proximity. The new model, although reducing the number of management areas from 43 to 30, promises to “adapt to the specific characteristics of each territory.” (https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2026-02-10/salud-presenta-el-mapa-del-sistema-sanitario-catalan-con-la-creacion-de-30-areas-integradas.html)
    • Thousands of people demonstrate in Madrid against Ayuso’s healthcare policy. The protesters, called together by unions and neighborhood associations, are demanding that the regional government halt the privatization of services, chanting “either you have a checkbook or you’re going to the other side” (https://elpais.com/espana/madrid/2026-02-08/miles-de-personas-se-manifiestan-en-madrid-contra-la-politica-sanitaria-de-ayuso.html)
    • The Community of Madrid has forgiven 71 million euros to private companies after they assumed responsibility for and treated its patients. An internal document from the Ayuso government confirms that the public health system loses millions every year by not billing private hospitals for many of the treatments it provides for its patients. (https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/comunidad-madrid-perdonado-71-millones-quiron-ribera-salud-asumir-tratar-pacientes_1_12899576.html)
    • Castilla-La Mancha launches the H3.0 health plan with an emphasis on data management. It is a new healthcare model committed to integrating AI, robotics, data analytics, and precision and genomic medicine. (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/castilla-mancha-pone-marcha-plan-salud-h30-foco-gestion-datos.html)
    • Cantabria signs improvements with doctors. Its objective is to attract and retain medical professionals, including resident physicians, in the regional health service. (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/cantabria-buruaga-firma-medicos-mejoras-supeditadas-presupuestos.html)
  • Problems with the Framework Statute
    • Some 5,000 doctors in Madrid are demanding the resignation of Mónica García and their own Framework Statute. The demonstration is a prelude to the five-day strike planned for next week, the first of five planned until July (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2026-02-14/unos-5000-medicos-piden-en-madrid-la-dimision-de-monica-garcia-y-un-estatuto-marco-propio.html)
  • Patient Organizations Law
    • Patient associations disagree on the new law: POP is against it, while the Foro is in favor. The Platform of Patient Organizations (POP) is calling for the correction of Article 2 of the regulations, as it leaves the concept of “patient association” too broad (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260211/desacuerdo-organizaciones-pacientes-nueva-ley-no-soluciona-problema-viene-corregir/1003744125483_0.html)
  • Pharmacy
    • The government signs a 21% margin for pharmacies (6% for distributors), to be reviewed every two years. Royal Decree 90/2026 on the financing and pricing of healthcare products introduces significant changes to their financing. The final text sets a 21% margin for pharmacies (6% for distributors) and strengthens economic control. It also establishes a review schedule by product group for products already on the market. (https://diariofarma.com/2026/02/12/el-gobierno-fija-en-el-21-el-margen-de-los-ppss-en-farmacia-se-revisara-cada-dos-anos)

Companies

  • International
    • Novo Nordisk intensifies its battle against Lilly by launching Wegovy in vials. Novo Nordisk will begin marketing Wegovy, its flagship drug, in vials, abandoning the exclusivity of the plastic injection pens it has used until now. This will represent a key strategic shift in its fight for dominance in the weight-loss drug market. (https://www.expansion.com/empresas/2026/02/12/698dc8eee5fdea0b138b4727.html)
    • AstraZeneca expects to earn €8.597 billion in 2025, a 54.3% increase, and raises its annual dividend (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260210/astrazeneca-gana-millones-euros-eleva-dividendo-anual/1003744124842_0.html)
  • National
    • Corporate health insurance becomes 10% more expensive, putting pressure on company budgets. Corporate spending on healthcare will remain around 9% in 2026. Prevention and claims management are key to maintaining profits (https://cincodias.elpais.com/extras/ciencia-salud/2026-02-14/el-seguro-medico-corporativo-se-encarece-un-10-y-tensiona-los-presupuestos-de-las-empresas.html)
    • Roche Diagnostics is considering layoffs of up to 50 people in Sant Cugat. The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has filed for workforce reductions at Roche Diagnostics, its subsidiary specializing in diagnostics, whose Spanish headquarters are located in Sant Cugat del Vallés (Barcelona) (https://www.expansion.com/catalunya/2026/02/13/698f7e45e5fdea4e028b45c4.html)
    • Abbott is considering expanding its plant in Granada due to increased demand in nutrition. The multinational medical technology company exports from its factory in Andalusia to 65 countries. (https://cincodias.elpais.com/extras/ciencia-salud/2026-02-13/abbott-estudia-la-ampliacion-de-su-planta-de-granada-por-la-mayor-demanda-en-nutricion.html)