7 days in healthcare (June 22nd-28th, 2026)

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Summary

The most impactful health news of the week included:

  • Biomedicine: The rise in cancers among young adults.
  • Global Health: One year after Trump suspended USAID aid, African health systems are operating under emergency protocols.
  • International Health Policy: The UN warns of the growth of the global drug market.
  • National Health Policy: Dynamic pricing, spending caps, and conditional payments: a new way to finance medicines in Spain.
  • Business: The mayor of Gijón states that Quirón has revived its hospital project in Gijón.

Biomedicine

  • Cancers in young adults. Although cancer remains predominantly a disease of older people, a study in The Lancet confirms the rise in cancer among young adults aged 20-49. In an analysis conducted in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australasia, cancer incidence increased between 2003 and 2017 in six of the 13 cancers analyzed: thyroid, breast, colorectal, kidney, endometrial, and leukemia.
  • A new technology opens the door to curing almost from conception and paves the way for designed babies. For the first time, researchers have successfully “switched off” a key gene in normal human embryos using a new, more precise and safer gene-editing tool.

Global Health

  • The Economist: Ebola has exposed Africa’s fragile health systems. After a year of suspended USAID aid, African health systems are operating on a state of emergency.
  • The Ebola epidemic has now claimed 304 lives, according to the latest estimates from authorities. The virus has infected 1,115 people, according to the National Institute of Public Health.
  • Ending AIDS is not a problem of resources, but of political will and humanity, according to an opinion piece published in Le Monde.

International Health Policy

  • The UN warns of the growth of the global drug market. The World Drug Report states that the consumption of these substances causes almost half a million deaths annually.
  • US national projections for health spending 2025-2034. In 2034, US health spending will reach $9 trillion and 20.6% of GDP, compared to $5.3 trillion and 18.0% of GDP in 2024. This increase is due to greater consumption of health services and goods. The percentage of the population covered by insurance is projected to reach 90.5% in 2034, up from 91.8% in 2024.
  • Systemic deficiencies in British maternity wards result in thousands of deaths and injuries. Donna Ockenden led the report that denounces this serious situation.
  • A growing number of young people in the UK are turning to private healthcare. Waiting lists, overcrowded hospitals, and increased demand from the elderly population are driving young people to the private sector.
  • Healthcare in Costa Rica is teetering on the brink. Hospital overcrowding, kilometer-long waiting lists, and warnings from the IMF are jeopardizing the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS), the pillar that sustains the country’s stability.

National Health Policy (Spain)

  • Dynamic pricing, spending caps, and conditional payments. The Ministry of Health is revolutionizing how medicines are financed. The Ministry has opened the updated drug pricing system in Spain to public consultation.
  • Ayuso presents Cardiology Madrid 365, an advanced model for monitoring heart disease. When a high risk is detected, it acts immediately by activating teleconsultations, adjusting treatment, making urgent referrals, and providing specialist assessments.
  • Families are redirecting their spending: more on healthcare and education, less on restaurants and accommodations. Data reflects a reduction in consumption at bars, restaurants, and hotels, while spending on private healthcare and education is increasing.

Companies

  • International
    • Lilly and Bayer criticize Germany for spending on new drugs. These two companies support Trump’s push for Europe to raise drug prices.
  • National
    • The mayor of Gijón states that Quirón has reactivated its hospital project in Gijón after months of stagnation. “The owners have contacted us and are again showing interest in fulfilling the agreement they signed with the City Council.”

Biomedicine

  • Cancers in young adults. Although cancer remains predominantly a disease of older people, a study in The Lancet confirms the rise in cancer among young adults aged 20-49. In an analysis conducted in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australasia, the incidence of cancer increased between 2003 and 2017 in six of the 13 cancers analyzed: thyroid, breast, colorectal, kidney, endometrial, and leukemia cancers (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)01279-1/fulltext)
  • How HIV reprograms the cells it occupies to force entry into the nucleus. A team from University College London demonstrates how the virus infects resting immune cells. A viral adaptation mechanism that could be expanded in other cases (https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2026/06/24/comment-le-vih-reprogramme-les-cellules-qu-il-cible-pour-forcer-l-entree-dans-leur-noyau_6710208_1650684.html)
  • Cystic fibrosis patients could have a solution with a generic drug. The generic medication discovered in Bangladesh is a fraction of the price in the USA (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/health/cystic-fibrosis-drug-triko-trikafta.html)
  • A new technology opens the door to curing almost from conception and opens the door to designer babies. Scientists have successfully switched off a key gene in normal human embryos for the first time using a new, more precise and safer gene-editing tool (https://www.abc.es/salud/tecnologia-genetica-jubila-crispr-logra-editar-genes-20260625170005-nt.html)

Global Health

  • Protecting health in hot cities. A Brazilian project aims to mitigate urban heat islands and their associated mortality risks (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)01281-X/fulltext)
  • The Economist: Ebola has exposed Africa’s fragile health systems. After a year of suspended USAID aid, African health systems are operating on an emergency model (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/06/25/ebola-has-put-africas-fragile-health-systems-in-the-spotlight)
  • The mystery of the origin of this Ebola outbreak. It is believed that the Bundibugyo virus comes from an animal species, but that species is unknown (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/science/ebola-bundibugyo-animal-reservoir.html)
  • The Ebola epidemic has now claimed 304 lives, according to the latest estimates from authorities. The virus has infected 1,115 people, according to the National Institute of Public Health (https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2026/06/26/l-epidemie-d-ebola-en-rdc-a-fait-304-morts-selon-le-dernier-bilan-des-autorites_6715861_3212.html)
  • Ending AIDS is not a matter of resources, but of political will and humanity, according to an opinion piece published in Le Monde (https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2026/06/22/la-fin-du-sida-n-est-plus-une-question-de-ressources-necessaires-mais-de-volonte-politique-et-d-humanite_6706468_3232.html)
  • A large study links some food preservatives to increased risk of cancer. The French NutriNet-Santé cohort identifies modest associations between the intake of these additives and the risk of cancer, reopening the scientific and regulatory debate (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2026-06-23/un-gran-estudio-relaciona-algunos-conservantes-alimentarios-con-mayor-risk-de-cancer.html)
  • Foodborne illnesses: a major challenge, more than 350,000 deaths per year. Gastrointestinal foodborne illnesses continue to cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide despite advances in recent years (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/infecciosas/las-enfermedades-de-transmision-alimentaria-un-desafio-en-el-mundo-mas-de-350-mil-muertes-al-ano.html)

International Health Policy

  • USA
    • US National Projections of Health Spending 2025-2034. In 2034, health spending in the USA will be $9 trillion and will reach 20.6% of GDP, compared to $5.3 trillion and 18.0% of GDP in 2024. This phenomenon is due to increased consumption of health services and goods. The percentage of the population covered by insurance is projected to reach 90.5% in 2034, up from 91.8% in 2024 (https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2026.00642)
    • Podcast: Why healthcare costs are rising so much in the USA (https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260624.69450/full/)
    • Trump issues an order to reduce pesticides. The order calls for more studies, does not include federal funding, and does not foresee new regulations (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-order-pesticides-rfk.html)
  • United Kingdom
    • The five ways Brexit changed the NHS: finances, immigration of healthcare professionals to the UK shifted from EU to non-EU, drug shortages and problems with social services, and less funding for research (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/the-five-ways-that-brexit-changed-the-nhs)
    • Hospitals in the UK cancel operations due to lack of air conditioning. Record-breaking June temperatures affected up to 4,000 surgical procedures (https://www.ft.com/content/fb187483-f496-4432-976e-0aaa9d0506fd?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Systemic deficiencies in maternity wards result in thousands of deaths and injuries. Donna Ockenden led the report that exposes this serious situation (https://www.ft.com/content/0975e178-aed7-41e2-bd5f-5ca635330aa0?syn-25a6b1a6=1). For access to the original report: https://www.ockendenmaternityreview.org.uk
    • A growing number of young people in the UK are turning to private healthcare. Waiting lists, overcrowded hospitals, and increased demand from the elderly population are driving young people toward the private sector (https://www.ft.com/content/c26a12d5-9d37-4799-9436-6d07ec917191?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Nigel Farage launches an anti-WHO campaign, raising suspicions of his involvement with an American lobbying group (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/27/nigel-farage-action-on-world-health-campaign-who-us-board)
  • France
    • Cancers and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in France. Mortality in France reaches a historically low level: 777.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2026/06/23/les-cancers-et-les-maladies-cardiovasculaires-premieres-causes-de-deces-en-france-en-2024_6708568_3224.html)
  • Costa Rica
    • Healthcare teeters on the brink of collapse in Costa Rica. Hospital overcrowding, kilometer-long waiting lists, and IMF warnings are jeopardizing Costa Rica’s Social Security System, the pillar that sustains the country’s stability (https://elpais.com/america/2026-06-24/el-motor-del-bienestar-de-costa-rica-en-cuidado-intensivo-la-sanidad-social-se-asoma-al-abismo.html)
  • India
    • Drug shortages are forcing doctors to ration chemotherapy. The problem is largely caused by the conflict in Iran (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)01280-8/fulltext)
  • United Nations

National Health Policy

  • Central Administration
    • The Ministry of Health is finalizing the new MIR (Medical Residency) regulations. The new draft eliminates the requirement for a maximum standard workweek of 37.5 hours and leaves everything to collective bargaining agreements. (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260622/sanidad-ultima-nueva-normativa-mir-eliminacion-jornada-maxima-horas-proteccion-laboral/1003744295517_0.html)
    • Dynamic pricing, spending caps, and conditional payments. The Ministry of Health is revolutionizing how medicines are financed. The Ministry has opened the updated drug pricing system in Spain to public consultation (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260619/precios-dinamicos-techos-gasto-pagos-conditionales-sanidad-revoluciona-finan-medicamentos/1003744292131_0.html)
    • The Ministry of Health estimates savings of €1.5 billion from the application of dynamic pricing. Specifically, they indicate that these savings would not occur in a single year, but rather by adding up the effects expected throughout the period 2026-2030 (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/politica/sanidad-estima-ahorro-155352-millones-euros-fruto-sistema-precios-dinamicos.html)
    • The PP, PSOE, and Sumar parties have agreed to keep drug prices secret before the Supreme Court ruling. Spain has one of the lowest drug prices in the European Union. Pharmaceutical companies sell their drugs at higher prices in countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. If this information were made public, it could lead health authorities in those countries to demand the same price from laboratories (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud-bienestar/noticias/13985767/06/26/pp-psoe-y-sumar-pactan-mantener-en-secreto-el-precio-real-de-los-medicamentos-antes-del-fallo-del-supremo.html)
  • Regional governments
    • Ayuso presents Cardiology Madrid 365, an advanced model for monitoring heart disease. When a high risk is detected, it acts immediately by activating teleconsultations, adjusting treatment, making urgent referrals, and conducting specialist assessments (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/c-madrid/ayuso-presenta-cardiologia-madrid-365-el-modelo-mas-avanzado-de-atencion-en-espana-frente-a-enfermedades-del-corazon.html)
    • The Galician Health Service (SERGAS) proposes a new area structure to strengthen Primary Care. The draft presented establishes that all health areas will have a Primary Care Directorate (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/profesion/sergas-propone-nueva-estructura-areas-salud-rezandor-ap.html)
  • Medical conflict over the Medical Statute
    • Doctors take their request for a Medical Statute to the Moncloa Palace and ask for Pedro Sánchez’s involvement. After five weeks of a national strike, the Medical Strike Committee has asked the Prime Minister to intervene to unblock negotiations on the Framework Statute and promote an inter-ministerial working group to move towards an agreement with the medical community (https://www.consalud.es/profesionales/los-medicos-elevan-el-conflicto-del-estatuto-marco-a-moncloa-y-piden-la-implicacion-directa-de-pedro-sanchez.html).
    • The Framework Statute (the one supported by non-medical unions) faces a difficult future without the backing of the Treasury, the Civil Service, and Social Security. The lack of commitments regarding retirement and salary increases associated with the new classification fuels skepticism within the healthcare sector, which fears that the reform will be limited to regulatory changes without real effects (https://www.consalud.es/politica/el-nuevo-estatuto-marco-encara-un-dificil-futuro-sin-el-compromiso-de-hacienda-funcion-publica-y-seguro-social-2026-06-19.html)
  • Health in family spending in Spain
    • Families are redirecting their spending: more on healthcare and education, less on restaurants and accommodation. Data reflects a reduction in consumption at bars, restaurants, and hotels, while spending on private healthcare and education is increasing. In 2025, average household spending will even contract slightly in real terms (https://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/2026-06-26/las-familias-reorientan-sus-gastos-sanidad-y-educacion_4379010/)

Companies

  • International
    • Stripe and Anthropic invest in fighting respiratory disease. The consortium is putting $500 million into the discovery of new drugs and air cleaning systems (https://www.ft.com/content/db7499ef-4608-4bd7-87d2-6b15a0ebd353?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • German group Merck will buy Bio-Techne for $11.3 billion (https://www.ft.com/content/4d5030cb-a61e-4d15-a5b5-c4c7c6bca471?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Lilly rolls out weight loss funding in the App Store for scientists (https://www.ft.com/content/d524396a-4986-46e9-9a93-a982e330d157?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Lilly and Bayer criticize Germany for spending on new drugs. These two companies support Trump’s push for Europe to raise drug prices (https://www.ft.com/content/1c2ba206-6111-464c-98e9-711741e33037?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Brussels launches an antitrust investigation into Sanofi (https://www.ft.com/content/5342c8a1-5b14-4ceb-9fee-50b73e0c161d?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
    • Lilly’s sales will grow six times faster than its competitors’ thanks to its obesity treatments (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260625/ventas-lilly-creceran-veces-rapido-competidores-gracias-tratamientos-obesidad/1003744298634_0.html)
  • National News
    • The Abarca family rules out bringing in new funds or investors for its hospitals. They want to remain in the regions where they already operate (Madrid, Galicia, León, Catalonia, Andalusia), without exploring new ones (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260625/familia-abarca-descarta-dar-entrada-fondos-nuevos-inversores-hm-hospitales-no-necesidad/1003744298256_0.html)
    • HM Hospitals acquires the Cruz Groga group in Catalonia. Following the completion of the transaction, HM Hospitals will have a healthcare network in Catalonia comprised of four hospitals, three in the city of Barcelona and one in Mataró; and seven outpatient clinics, six of them in the province of Barcelona and one in the province of Girona (https://forbes.es/health/959976/hm-hospitales-integra-grupo-creu-groga/)
    • Moody’s raises Almirall’s rating based on growth forecasts through 2030. The agency highlights the pharmaceutical company’s low leverage. It also anticipates that the company will complement internal development with strategic acquisitions, if necessary (https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2026-06-25/moodys-eleva-el-rating-de-almirall-ante-las-previsiones-de-crecimiento-hasta-2030.html)
    • Hipra prepares for growth and global expansion in its nascent human health business. Executives at the veterinary-based firm are banking on the opening of the European market in 2027 to boost sales of their COVID-19 vaccine (https://cincodias.elpais.com/extras/ciencia-salud/2026-06-19/hipra-prepara-la-expansion-y-el-crecimiento-global-de-su-incipiente-negocio-de-salud-humana.html)
    • Prim is preparing to invest more than €100 million in acquiring companies by 2031 (https://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia/noticias/13987622/06/26/fernando-oliveros-ceo-de-grupo-prim-vamos-a-invertir-al-menos-100-millones-en-la-compra-de-una-decena-de-empresas-hasta-2031.html)
    • The mayor of Gijón states that Quirón has Moriyon has reactivated its hospital project in Gijón after months of no progress. “The owners have contacted us and are again showing interest in carrying out the agreement they signed with the City Council” (https://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/moriyon-asegura-quiron-reactivado-proyecto-hospital-nuevo-20260626150940-nt.html)

 

 

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