7 days in healthcare (February 20th-26th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, perhaps the most striking thing is that it is the 90th anniversary of the first transplant in humans, which took place in Kherson (Ukraine), a city that is so topical today due to the Russian invasion. It was a kidney transplant to a 26-year-old woman.

As regards Global Health, an important report on maternal mortality published by the United Nations. There is no decrease in frequency in recent years. Globally, 800 maternal deaths occur every day, a staggering figure. Cholera emerges globally, with outbreaks already in 30 countries, which indicates serious problems in water management and in the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the population.

Regarding International Health Policy, it seems that, despite the large outbreak of covid that occurred in China, after the abandonment of the covid-zero policy, this has not generated new variants of the virus. In the United Kingdom, conflicts persist in the NHS, with junior doctors joining the strikes. Important division in Colombia before the new health reform promoted by President Petro.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the cumulative incidence of covid continues to rise slightly, although mortality is decreasing. The medical conflict continues, both in Madrid and in other communities. The cost of putting a personal assistant to each Primary Care doctor is evaluated: 505 million euros. It’s a lot of money, but it’s possibly part of the solution. The pharmaceutical sector, with a large rise in 2022, consolidates as a large export sector in Spain.

At the Business level, internationally, Apple about to develop a smart watch that can detect blood glucose level, which can change diabetes management. Big Pharma is resisting at the international level that patents are expiring and giving way to generics, as reported by the Financial Times. It seems that Fresenius is going to concentrate on the area of hospitals and generics. In principle, the rumors of the possible sale of Quirón and the preparation of several private equity companies for this operation are dissipated. In Spain, significant increase in sales of Korian, Quirón and Asisa. BUPA and Mapfre alliance to sell certain insurance in some Latin American countries.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

7 days in healthcare (February 13th-19th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth highlighting the reference in the British Medical Journal on the questionable value of colorectal cancer screening, according to a double-blind study of the results of colonoscopy, with a large population followed up, without detecting reductions in the mortality from this type of cancer. The first vaccine against the syncytial virus, responsible for many deaths, both newborns and adults, is presented. The results of a test that detects prostate cancer with great precision, with a simple blood test, are published.

With regard to Global Health, the New England Journal Medicine published an article on the correct path to eradicate polio, which is once again a problem in many countries, defending universal immunization against polio, in instead of virus eradication strategies. The Lancet reviews the One Health strategy, this approach that links climate change, animal health and human health as something that cannot be addressed separately. It is detected that poor countries desperately need access to cheap generics, since in these countries, due to less competition between manufacturers, generics are more expensive than in developed countries. Malaria is spreading across Africa as climate change allows the geographic spread of the mosquitoes that transmit it.

Regarding International Health Policy, there is a great debate in the United States about the future of Social Security and Medicare, with very opposed positions between Democrats and Republicans. In the UK, the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment exceeds three million in England alone. In France, the very open debate on euthanasia continues with wide participation, with the involvement of President Macron himself. In Chile, the crisis in the private health sector threatens the entire Chilean health system. The collapse of the Isapres (Chilean health insurers) would mean that 3.2 million people would pass into the already congested public Fonasa system. Poland bans energy drinks for those under 18, a move welcomed by doctors in that country. The European Commission finalizes the European pharmaceutical strategy, with new approaches towards generics and orphan drugs. The EFPIA, the European employers’ association for pharmaceutical companies, criticizes what is becoming known about this reform, considering it harmful to competitiveness.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the cumulative incidence of covid continues to rise slightly. From a regulatory point of view, two important laws are approved: the so-called “trans law” and the new abortion law. From various sectors of the healthcare industry, objections had been made to certain elements of both laws, the consequences of which will have to be expected. As far as the medical conflict is concerned, it is increasingly clear that the conflict in Madrid is one thing and another in the other communities. Although the problems of Primary Care are national, and therefore the national government cannot inhibit itself as it is doing, what is specific to Madrid is the way in which the Community government approaches it, which simply attributes it to a “conspiracy of the left”, which contributes to its exacerbation, prolongation and expansion (it is also announces conflict among hospital doctors). Both the international press (Financial Times, Le Monde) and the national one (Zarzalejos in El Confidencial and others) strongly criticize this approach by the Community of Madrid, which has published a decalogue of excellence in Madrid’s healthcare, strongly criticized for its inaccuracies. In other communities, on the other hand, with all the difficulties, agreements are being reached. The national government also uses this conflict to enter into health, trying to neutralize criticism of the “yes is yes” law. Those who want politics out of healthcare don’t know what they’re saying. On the contrary, we need a political debate on high altitude and adult health. Just the opposite of what is happening. Private insurance policies are rising in price, something that the sector had been demanding for years.

At the Corporate level, at the international level, it is proposed that health information (largely from the NHS) be the basis of a British sovereign wealth fund, in the same way that a Norwegian sovereign wealth fund is based on information about oil. Grifols announces a savings plan that includes 2,300 layoffs, which has been highly received by the Stock Market, significantly raising the shares of this company.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

  • Chili
    • The crisis in the private sector threatens the entire Chilean health system. A 2010 court ruling prevents adjusting policies by age and sex. Although the measure had not been implemented, it seems that the government wants to do so. The collapse of the Isapres (health insurers in Chile) would mean that 3.2 million people would pass into the already congested public Fonasa system (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00321-5/fulltext)

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (February 6th-12th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, vaccines against cancer; precision surgery in lung cancer; the use of bacteriophage viruses against antibiotic resistant bacteria; stem cells for a wide variety of diseases; and micromotor robots, great promise in the development of new advances in medicine.

With regard to Global Health, it should be noted that 839 million people around the world cannot eat with dignity, for various reasons; the magazine Nature calls for a treaty against new pandemics, since it estimates that the covid represented “a catastrophic failure of the international community in achieving solidarity and equity”. The malaria pandemic is still active in more than 30 countries .

Regarding International Health Policy, in the United States the practices of certain pharmaceutical companies to prevent the entry of generics and biosimilars are denounced. International effort in the search for antibiotics to combat bacterial resistance.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the incidence of the covid has a small rebound, hopefully in a context of falling incidence, although high mortality persists. The Spanish Public Health Agency, whose bill has just been approved, possibly the most important consequence of the covid crisis. The conflict of public health continues, focused on Primary Care. The Constitutional Court recognizes the constitutionality of the abortion law of deadlines. AESEG and BIOSIM request modification of the reference prices and urgent measures along these lines, since many medicines are at the limit of economic viability.

In the field of Companies, at the international level, it should be noted that Sanofi and Merck MSD significantly increase their profits in 2022. At the national level, Quirónsalud announces the start-up of a new hospital in Valencia. For its part, Consentino, a company that had plans to go public, may see its intentions cut short for health reasons, given the high incidence of silicosis among its workforce.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

  • USA

National Health Policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (January 30th- February 5th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth highlighting the review by The Lancet on lung cancer screening, which shows that the low-dose Scanner is effective in reducing mortality, although there are aspects of cost-effectiveness that they remain as a problem; neural implants in rats open the prospect of brain transplants; the gene therapy revolution, previously abandoned for safety reasons, is now in full swing; and mRNA vaccines, which may be useful for cancer, with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy. The debate on check-ups is current, proving, once again, that annual check-ups do not reduce mortality, and despite everything, they are increasingly in demand.

As regards Global Health, The Lancet publishes an editorial in which it tries to change the narrative of little hope until now on cancer, due to the great disparities between countries in this fight.

Regarding International Health Policy, the New England Journal Medicine magazine publishes an article that affects the approach to the new reality of the covid, despite the new perception as a minor nuisance, it continues to represent between 300 and 500 deaths a day in USES. According to The Economist, we will most likely never know the number of deaths from covid in China, since the official mortality figures are not credible. The crisis in the British NHS continues, which seems to have been exacerbated by Brexit. Prime Minister Sunak’s proposals are for more ambulances, more hospital beds and home care. El Mercurio, the leading newspaper in Chile, editorializes on the critical situation of the ISAPRES (health insurers) in that country, which could fall into insolvency, which occurs due to the government’s indifference to this situation.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the incidence of covid continues to drop, although mortality remains high. World Cancer Day (February 4) coincides with the appearance of interesting publications on the cancer situation in our country, both by SEOM and the OECD. This latest report warns Spain about accessibility problems. The implementation of cancer screening has been uneven, which leads to inequities between autonomous communities. Cancer already represents 10% of public health spending. The celebration of Cancer Day also coincides with two new inaugurations of centers dedicated to this disease: the Cancer Center of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and the experimental oncology center of the Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid. The Ministry of Health of the Valencian Community announces the non-extension of the Denia concession contract. The Government publishes the Regulatory Plan for 2023, the law of the National Public Health Agency among the three health laws planned for 2023.

In the field of Companies, internationally, it should be noted that Pfizer is the first pharmaceutical company to reach revenues of more than $100,000 a year, thanks largely to the boost of the covid vaccine. As far as Spain is concerned, both Vitaldent and IMED are launching new centers. It seems that we are witnessing a fever of new private hospitals (Vithas in Barcelona; Sanitas in Madrid; Viamed in Tarragona; IMED in Alicante; Quirón in Asturias; and a long etcetera).

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

  • COVID
    • Addressing the new reality of covid. The covid passed, in the popular perception from a terrible threat to a minor inconvenience with a few days of symptoms. The reality, however, is not that and the covid still means between 300 and 500 deaths a day in the USA, equivalent to a mortality higher than that of a serious flu epidemic. To this must be added the effects of persistent covid (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2213920)
  • Changes in the United States
    • The implications of the results of the US elections in 2022 in health. Results of a survey conducted by Robert Blendon. It is striking that despite the fact that the United States is the country that spends the most on healthcare, the majority of the population thinks that little is spent. This opinion is very predominant among Democrats, but also in the majority among Republicans (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr2214949)
    • The response of the National Health Institutes (NHI) to covid (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf5167)

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (January 23rd-29th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth highlighting, as the Nature article does, that among the 7 most promising technologies for 2023, at least three are directly related to biomedicine. It seems that not only neurons have a role in brain function, but also a relevant role of glial cells in certain disorders is beginning to be recognized.

As regards Global Health, the WHO requests 2.5 billion dollars to deal with health emergencies, particularly in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and Ethiopia.

As for International Health Policy, a consensus began to be created three years after the start of the pandemic that, although not totally overcome, it is no longer the emergency that it was. The problems in China with the covid continue. The crisis in the NHS is the biggest for many years. Basically, there are two positions: the one that seems to be held by the current conservative government that the system is unsustainable without co-payments and very profound changes; or the one represented by The Lancet, which says that the system is perfectly viable, if it is provided with more resources. What is clear is that the UK lags behind other European countries in many resources (hospital beds etc.). Two good news in terms of health policy are led by countries that are not usually at the forefront on these issues: the smoking ban in Mexico and the mental health law in Nigeria. Tensions between governments and pharmaceutical companies over the price of medicines are increasing and this time they are not only in Europe, but also in the United States (the largest pharmaceutical market).

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the incidence of covid continues to drop, although mortality remains high (above 250 deaths per week). The medical conflict in public health continues, mainly in Primary Care. While there are communities that have reached agreements (Andalusia, Navarra, Aragon, Extremadura), in others (Madrid, Catalonia) there does not seem to be any sign of agreement, which makes us think and we will have to draw conclusions about different behaviors of the Administrations and of medical leaders. Conflict also between private health doctors and health insurers. It seems that the Equity Law is going ahead, after Darias’ agreement with Podemos. Interesting agreement in Madrid so that hospital specialists can also take leave. Aragon proposes that the issue of health be dealt with in the President’s Conference, which seems reasonable, given the seriousness of the problems, although the document of said community does not contain great innovative elements. After the more than debatable success of the operations in Alzira and Torrevieja, it seems that the Valencian government also wants to rescue Denia. At this point, a deeper and more articulate justification of political decisions should be demanded.

In the field of Companies, at the international level, it is necessary to highlight the great activity of private equity companies worldwide in the field of health, as revealed by the Bain report. In Spain, Ribera Salud leaves Extremadura. Important investments in our country from Bayer and Novartis are confirmed

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (January 16th-22nd, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth highlighting, as the Science article does, the celebration of a decade of CRISPR gene editing technology, whose impact on medicine is only just beginning. Janssen withdraws from the HIV vaccine, a new failure in the attempt to discover a vaccine against this disease. Moderna, on the other hand, presents positive results with a vaccine against bronchiolitis. A new report points to wastewater analysis as fundamental to monitoring threats from a wide variety of diseases, not just covid.

As regards Global Health, The Lancet in an editorial underlines the importance of the One Health concept, this idea of the interdependence between human, animal and ecosystem health. The Economist publishes an editorial and an article on the problems of health systems that are in crisis everywhere in the post-covid era (even in Switzerland!), which is making mortality in Europe have been in the last year 10% higher than in a normal year.

Regarding International Health Policy, in the USA the opponents of abortion are manifested. Problems continue in the NHS, with Sajid Javid, former health secretary, proposing something as unusual in the UK as a co-pay in Primary Care and Emergency. He says an overly religious view of the NHS prevents reforms. Important debate and tensions about the price of medicines in the European continent (UK and EU) in relation to prices in the USA. Pharmaceutical companies, very reluctant to price controls, when they are also in the USA with the application of the Inflation Act, which gradually imposes a negotiation of the price of medicines between the Medicare Administration and pharmaceutical companies.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the incidence of covid continues to drop. Medical conflicts extend to various autonomous communities (Madrid, Catalonia, Navarra, etc.). The agreement in Aragon should be highlighted, which indicates that it is possible to reach agreements, possibly when they are well negotiated. The Ministry, completely absent from this problem. As for the public system, the statements by Lasquetty, Madrid’s Treasury Councilor, who points to “my own place” as one of the great rigidities of the public system, are very interesting. Conflict also in private health between doctors and insurers, raised in Seville. Abortion enters the national debate, following the picturesque proposals of Vox in Castilla y León, never applied. The Constitutional Court opens its new session with the debate on the recourse to the Law of deadlines presented in its day by the PP. The CIS survey presents health as the second problem that worries the Spanish.

In the field of Companies, internationally, Pfizer’s initiative to sell medicines at cost prices in 45 poor countries must be highlighted. At the national level, the launch by DKV of an insurance product that allows choosing a family doctor is notable. In a context in which insurers actually forget about Primary Care, this is something that deserves to be highlighted.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National Health Policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (January 9th-15th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, everything seems to indicate that important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases are coming in the not too distant future, with cancer vaccines, the new FLASH radiotherapy, the diagnostic revolution of virtual biopsies and the incorporation of certain devices (such as smart watches) in the prevention and monitoring of certain pathologies.

With regard to Global Health, it should be noted that climate change seriously threatens our health, according to The Lancet. Another important article in this magazine refers to the fact that the covid has revealed the inequalities between social groups and countries in dealing with the pandemic, as well as the absence of a global health architecture.

As for International Health Policy, with regard to covid, an editorial in The Lancet says that far from being overcome, 2023 brings new concerns, such as the impact of the situation in China or the new form XBB.1.5 in the United States. In China, the post-covid zero situation continues, officially acknowledging almost 60,000 deaths in the last month, despite the fact that the WHO insists on the request for more transparency in that country. In the United States, the abortion pill, according to the FDA, can already be purchased in pharmacies and by mail order, even in states where abortion is totally prohibited, which indicates the difficulty of shortcuts and of wanting to close doors to the field. In the United Kingdom the serious crisis of the NHS continues. The health minister of the shadow Labor cabinet publishes in the Financial Times an article with a long-term approach to reforms, something that, regardless of its content, we miss in Spain by all parties. An important editorial in The Economist where it says that part of the solution to the NHS’s problems involves solving the problems of Primary Care, proposing several changes, but without losing perspective that a large part of the problems are in hospitals, with the situation of waiting lists and emergencies. He also opposes the Labor Party’s proposal, made last week, to end the independent mini-company character of Primary Care in the UK, in order to make primary care physicians salaried. The Economist carries out a study that says that in the United Kingdom there are 260 deaths a week (more than 12,000 a year) as a result of delays in the emergency room. The British are turning more and more to private healthcare, as increase problems in the public sector. The EU devises plans to avoid medicine shortages and dependence on China.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the drop in the incidence of covid continues, despite the situation in China and the American variant called Kraken. The Primary Care strike in the Community of Madrid is reactivated and a strike is on the brink in 8 autonomous communities, while the emergencies are collapsed. Despite the plans, recent studies show that almost half of public health workers are temporary. In relation to the Strategic Plan of the pharmaceutical industry, both BIOSIM and AESEG, as well as the representatives of orphan drugs, position themselves with requests, in a clear attempt not to leave this plan only in the hands of large innovative companies, as suggested by the photo of La Moncloa, with Sánchez meeting with the main leaders of pharmaceutical multinationals.

In the field of Companies, internationally, relevant news for Pfizer, BioNTech and AstraZeneca. In our country, it is worth noting the steps taken by Viamed (new hospital in Tarragona), Ribera (great growth in turnover in 2022), Miranza (which continues its growth), Korian (which is preparing to integrate Group 5) and the CUN (which has just renovated part of its hospitalization area). For its part, KKR has completed the acquisition of IVI, an important in vitro fertilization company of Spanish origin.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (January 2nd-8th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is important to highlight significant advances in the treatment of some diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, breast cancer (a project inspired in its day by José Baselga), brain tumors, including the dreaded glioblastoma multiforme, and resistant tuberculosis.

With regard to Global Health, the WHO warns of global health threats in 2023: the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, which fortunately already seems to be in recession; the drought in the Horn of Africa; cholera, endemic in 69 countries; non-communicable diseases (particularly cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancer), as well as the global stagnation due to the pandemic in the fight against various diseases: HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Science reminds us that wastewater analysis has proven to be extremely useful for monitoring infectious diseases.

As for International Health Policy, with regard to covid, global concern is not so much for the cases that may come from China (which seem to correspond to the omicron that we already know) but for the new variant (Kraken) of United States, much more contagious than omicron and already affects a high percentage of cases in that country. The serious problems of the end of covid zero in China continue, with the opening of the country on January 8, which has been closed for three years. An editorial in The Economist looks at how the grand reopening may affect the global economy. Once again, the WHO says that mortality from covid in China is underestimated, if official figures are taken into account. Big change in the United States, where the abortion pill can be purchased in ordinary pharmacies. The large pharmacy chains, willing to participate in this sale. It must be remembered that a high percentage of abortions in the United States are already pharmacological. Serious crisis in the British National Health Service, with staff strikes, long waiting lists, saturation of emergencies and statements by unions and the Prime Minister. Labor wants to pass NHS employees to GPs (primary physicians), something that is in contradiction with the founding political pact of 1948 for the creation of the National Health Service, in which Aneurin Bevan participated. In France, health is also at the center of the political debate, with some statements on January 6 by President Macron, who considered among the solutions nothing less than ending fees per act, which in France are big words.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the year opens with the prospect of regional elections in 12 autonomous communities (May 28) and general elections at the end of the year, as well as a change in the head of the Ministry of Health. Several laws have been announced, including some advanced (new framework personnel statute, abortion, equity law), others more delayed (Public Health Agency, law of guarantees, possible reform of the dependency law). The Platform of Patient Organizations (POP) makes 10 proposals for chronic patients. As for professionals, some health insurance companies (DKV) have reacted quickly and announced increases in rates for doctors, which is undoubtedly a response to the criticism they had received from some medical associations, which even have raised certain protest actions. A piece of news says that the Zendal hospital has only 56 patients, which speaks of the fact that it has not yet found its place in Madrid’s health system, not surprising, since it seems that this hospital was established without the corresponding and obligatory Functional Plan (which defines the service portfolio, the population to be served, the incardination in the rest of the system, technology, personnel needs and other basic issues). Biosimilars, under the leadership of BIOSIM and starting in Extremadura, delve into the experience of shared benefit.

In the business sphere, in the international arena, Moderna acquires a genomics company. On the other hand, the completion of the Da Vinci robot patent will change the prospects for robotic surgery. At the national level, Ribera assumes the management of the Cascais hospital in Portugal, which is good news for public/private collaboration in our country.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (December 26th, 2022-January 1st, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth noting the ambitious project of the United Kingdom “Our Future Health”, which aims to place this country at the forefront of genomic research, and which seeks to carry out genetic analyzes of 5 million adult British volunteers, then looking at the correlation with lifestyles and medical records. Undoubtedly, this project will allow us to advance a lot in the knowledge of a wide variety of diseases.

With regard to Global Health, great concern in the world, since the large number of cases in China increase the probability that new variants will appear. There is no doubt that the covid – which had appeared, artificially or naturally, in China – has entered a new phase in which the epicenter is once again China.

Regarding International Health Policy, countries are preparing to put control measures at airports and borders against travelers from China, although the ECDC sees this type of control as unfounded and the EU has not adopted a common policy. Joschka Fischer (former – German Foreign Minister) publishes an in-depth article, whose conclusion is that, in contrast to what had previously been said that authoritarian regimes that do not depend on public opinion can impose drastic and effective measures in crisis situations such as covid, experience has shown that liberal democracies are more effective than autocracies in dealing with these situations. Great controversy in the European Union over the claim of the pharmaceutical industry to agree to produce new antibiotics, under the condition of increasing the patent term of certain drugs.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), Spain has approved airport control measures to control travelers from China, which will be in force between December 31, 2022 and February 15, 2023. Primary Care doctors have opposed the hiring of doctors without MIR training, since this seems more like an opportunistic measure than addressing the underlying problems of Primary Care. The central government, so little fond of publishing and preparing expert analyzes on the covid management, instead presents a self-assessment on its management. According to this report “Cumpliendo” (“Fulfilling”) 64% of the health promises have already been fulfilled and 35% are in process. Bearing in mind that none of the structural healthcare problems have been addressed (personnel regime, management model, governance, accessibility and waiting lists, etc.) this self-assessment seems to us grated on complacency and even propaganda. Unless the promises -which are said to have been fulfilled- have nothing to do with the real problems of the sector. An interesting initiative from the private sector through the IDIS Foundation, which announces the start-up of a pilot on interoperability, should be highlighted. The fact that companies that compete with each other -both from the insurance and provisioning fields- agree on the interoperability of medical records is something that deserves to be highlighted.

In the field of Companies, the American Congress has taken an unusual decision: criticize the FDA for its inadequate collaboration with Biogen for the approval of the drug against Alzheimer’s. At the national level, Atrys continues its growth, both in Spain and abroad (United Kingdom, Middle East and Latin America).

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (December 19th-25th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it should be noted that 2022 has been an extraordinarily productive year from the point of view of the appearance of effective drugs, among others against obesity or different forms of cancer. mRNA vaccines open the way to new therapeutic approaches

With regard to Global Health, the British Medical Journal summarizes the human and health damage caused by the floods in Pakistan.

Regarding International Health Policy, discussions continue about the origin of the covid. President Biden is accused of complacency in saying as early as September that “the pandemic is over”, while the mortality continues. Everything seems to indicate that the end of the covid-zero policy in China is producing a large number of cases (millions in just one day), which is putting maximum pressure on the health system and, probably, since there are no reliable figures, with a high mortality. UK nurses and ambulance strike.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the incidence of covid has risen slightly in the last week, with a high death toll (241). The strike of Primary Care doctors in Madrid is paralyzed until January 11, to analyze the administration proposals. The Government undertakes to launch the working group for the elaboration of the Strategic Plan on the pharmaceutical industry, after the promises of investments in the next three years made by the heads of the most important pharmaceutical companies in a meeting in La Moncloa . Government and Community of Madrid launch the Neurotechnology Center.

In the field of Companies, internationally, it seems that private equity companies are oriented in the USA towards hospital emergencies. In Spain, Warren Buffet acquired the largest medical error insurance.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

  • Pharmaceutical policy

Companies