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7 days in healthcare (January 31-February 6, 2022)

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SUMMARY

As far as biomedicine is concerned, the report on the value of death by The Lancet stands out; also the development of the nasal vaccine against COVID; the new horizon of transplants, derived from the possibilities of genetic editing of animal organs; and, the revolution that the new cancer vaccines based on mRNA technology may entail.

In terms of global health, the AstraZeneca vaccine is the most widely used worldwide, due to its contribution to COVAX. More than 2,500 million doses have been placed globally.

In international health policy, the most striking is the study by Johns Hopkins University, which minimizes the effectiveness of confinement, which contrasts with previous studies; the 900,000 deaths from COVID in the United States and the 500,000 in India; the WTO continues to request the release of vaccine patents. In Europe, it is worth highlighting the new clinical trial system approved by the European Union and its new approach to cancer.

National health policy continues to be dominated by COVID. The numbers of cases are decreasing, which speaks of the decline of the “sixth wave”. However, deaths are still very high. The announcement that oncological biomarkers will be included in the portfolio of the National Health System is very important. Cancer mapping in Spain presents very striking results, with a high concentration of cancer incidence in certain geographical areas. Subject to study and act.

In company news, the leading role of venture capital companies is notable, with the large operations underway by Sandoz (a generic and biosimilar branch of Novartis) and IVI (a Spanish fertility company). The interest of private equity companies is concentrated around these companies. Also the acquisition of MIR Asturias by CVC and the Alfonso X University. The attempt by Correos to enter pharmaceutical distribution will bring a tail.

BIOMEDICINE

  • Report on the value of death: while in developed countries there is hypertreatment around death, in most countries death occurs without access to basic pain treatment (The Lancet, January 31, 22)
  • The nasal vaccine may be better for successive doses. There are a dozen such vaccines in development in phase 3 trials (NYT, February 2, 22)
  • The “stealth” variant (stealth) does not generate alarm, but it can slow down the decline in the number of cases (NYT, January 31, 22)
  • The sub-variant “ómicron” BA.2, more contagious than the original (FT, 31 January 22)
  • The new variant BA.2, already present in 57 countries, according to the WHO (FT, February 3, 22)
  • New variant of the HIV virus, discovered in the Netherlands (FT, February 3, 22)
  • Genetic editing of pig hearts: a new horizon for transplants (FT, February 2, 22)
  • Cancer vaccines: the new mRNA revolution (El País, Vozpópuli, February 4, 22)
  • Amidst the wide debate on abortion, a simple pill seems the most viable option (The Economist, 5 February 22)

GLOBAL HEALTH

  • AstraZeneca, the most distributed vaccine through COVAX, has already given 2,500 million doses worldwide (ConSalud, January 31, 22)
  • Humanitarian groups denounce that sanctions against Mali may have very adverse health consequences (The Lancet, February 5, 22)

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

  • COVID

o A study by Johns Hopkins University (Applied Economics Studies magazine) questions the effectiveness of confinement in reducing mortality, which contrasts with the analysis published in Nature in June 2020, which estimates that three million deaths have been prevented in Europe by confinement, 450,000 in Spain (El Independiente, February 3, 22)

o The UK approves the Novavax vaccine (FT, 3 February 22)

o The American army begins to fire its members who refuse the vaccine (The Guardian, February 2, 22)

o The New Zealand border will be reopened in phases from the end of February, the Prime Minister announces (The Guardian, 2 February 22)

o The United States reaches 900,000 deaths from COVID (The Guardian, February 4, 22)

o India exceeds 500,000 deaths from COVID (The Guardian, February 4, 22)

o Europe facing a “long period of tranquility” in the pandemic, says the WHO, due to the lesser severity of the “ómicron” variant, the high percentages of immunization and the good weather (The Guardian, February 3, 22)

o The WTO (World Trade Organization) wants an agreement to release vaccine patents this month (El Español, February 1, 22)

o The German Vaccine Commission recommends the fourth dose for vulnerable and health groups (El País, February 3, 22)

o Beijing seals off several communities for two cases of COVID (The Guardian, January 31, 22)

o The COVID vaccine is already mandatory in Austria, with a great social fracture (Expansión, February 5, 22)

  • Other issues

o New clinical trial system in Europe, which Farmaindustria sees as an opportunity (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o The EU will act against inequalities against cancer (ConSalud, February 3, 22)

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o The sixth wave is being left behind, the cases and hospitalizations are slowing down, although not the deaths that already exceed 6,000 since November (El País, February 5, 22)

o The mask outdoors will no longer be mandatory from next Thursday (El País, February 4, 22)

o Health has not yet closed the purchase of 344,000 doses of Paxlovid (El Español, February 3, 22)

o The AEM authorizes the HIPRA vaccine to go to phase 3 of clinical trials (The Objective, February 1, 22)

  • Political ads

o The new public health center, affected by the decentralization of public offices (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o The approval of oncological biomarkers, announced as a pending objective of the expansion of the NHS portfolio (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o The Minister of Health says that the Anti-Tobacco Law needs to be updated (ConSalud, February 4, 22)

  • Other issues

o 27% of pharmaceutical innovations approved in 2021, subject to special financing conditions (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o Access to new cancer drugs takes more than 19 months in Spain, while in Germany it takes two months, according to doctors and patients (La Vanguardia, February 2, 22)

o Health plan to make rural pharmacies more viable (ConSalud, January 28, 2022)

o The private e-prescription is consolidated (diariofarma, February 2, 22)

o The cartography of cancer in Spain has been published, with very striking results, according to the “Atlas of Cancer Mortality in Portugal and Spain” (El Periódico de España, February 5, 22)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR

  • American pharmaceutical companies (J&J and three of the largest drug distributors in the United States) agree to pay 590 million dollars to Native Americans for the opioid crisis (El País, February 1, 22)
  • Pharmaceutical cold distribution, new Correos service (Redacción Médica, February 2, 22)
  • Pfizer-Biontech requests authorization from the FDA for the approval of the vaccine for children under 5 years of age (El País, February 1, 22)
  • Private equity companies consider offers of more than 25,000 million dollars for the generics unit of Novartis, Sandoz, Blackstone, Carlyle and EQT, among the most interested (FT, February 1, 22)
  • KKR, CVC, Permira, Bain, Carlyle and PAI outline their bids to take over the fertility company of Valencian origin IVI, the bids range from 1,500 million euros (CincoDías, January 31, 22)
  • Atrys enters the continuous market, as of February 7 (PlantaDoce, February 3, 22)
  • Sanitas gains ground and plans to open 7 rehabilitation centers in 2022 (PlantaDoce, February 1, 22)
  • Adeslas and Caixabank extend their agreement in the Bankia network for 650 million euros (CincoDías, January 27, 22)
  • MIR Asturias acquired by CVC and Alfonso X University (La Nueva España, February 3, 22)
  • Quirón acquires Clínicas Vida and strengthens its care network in Tenerife (PlantaDoce, January 28, 22)
  • Vitaldent expands throughout Andalusia and opens a new clinic in Benalmádena (PlantaDoce, February 3, 22)
  • Group 5 opens a residence for serious mental disorders in Madrid (PlantaDoce, February 3, 22)
  • Prim is reinforced with the purchase of Herbitas laboratories (Expansión, February 4, 22)
  • Pharmamar leads a consortium of companies for the development of advanced therapies (El Economista, February 3, 22)

Atrys: a multinational created in five years (breakfast with its Founder: Santiago de Torres)

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On January 25, 2022, a breakfast was held at the Roland Berger headquarters in Madrid with Santiago de Torres, Founder and President of Atrys.

What follows is a brief summary of the story of the creation, development and future prospects of this company. It is nothing more than a summary of the rich exposition of its Founder.

What does the company do

Advanced medical diagnosis in the broadest sense: radiology, teleradiology, genetics, molecular diagnosis, Pathology, etc. All this oriented both to prevention and precision medicine, using the most varied tools: Big data, artificial intelligence, …

Ultimately, it is a matter of putting as many surnames as possible to the medical process, be it cancer or another disease, in order to select the most appropriate treatment for the characteristics of the pathology and the patient.

Big emphasis on data

Atrys performs 6 million medical acts per year. From the information generated by these data, Atrys has developed its own data company (Smart Data), with the idea that all this information can be used by pharmaceutical companies and other health companies.

Customers

They are both private and public. In general, 75% of income comes from private clients (hospital groups, etc.) and 25% from public clients.

How it has grown

Atrys has been developed based on organic and inorganic growth

To show the speed of its growth, when Atrys went on the MAB (now BME Growth) it had a turnover of 4.5 million euros and an EBIDTA of 1 million euros. At the present time (about to go on the continuous market) its capitalization is 600 million and its EBIDTA is 40 million.

In this period they have gone from 45 employees in 2016 to 2,300 today.

Joint initiatives with renowned partners

Atrys has a nuclear medicine center with Sanitas in Barcelona (another one will be opened soon in Madrid); the creation of a pediatric oncology center is underway in Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona, ​​in which Atrys will perform nuclear medicine; as well as with the Champalimaud Foundation, in Portugal; and with BUPA in Chile, among others.

Presence in 7 countries

Atrys has a presence in 7 countries: Spain, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Portugal and Switzerland. The presence in Switzerland responds to give confidence to investors in terms of operating in a solid triple A country.

Company integration process

Regarding inorganic growth, Atrys has integrated 14 companies. Atrys approach is always to acquire 100%.

Very balanced shareholding

Shareholder management has been an important part of Atrys’ success.

At this time it has two mutuals (Mutua Madrileña and CASER), which together have around 10%; 2 funds; 2 family offices (with 5% each); and management has 12%. 30% in floating shares.

Continuous market release

Soon (February 9, 22), Atrys will go on the continuous market, after more than arduous negotiations and compliance with the requirements of the CNMV.

Governance has been adapted and is highly thought of in the continuous market, for example Josep Piqué is an independent director and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee.

This whole process of relations with the CNMV slowed down inorganic growth a bit, in order not to alter the picture during the process, but it already has more than 10 companies in the pipeline and its approach is to go from being in 7 countries in a short time to be in 10, being the last three to be incorporated from the environment of the European Union.

Keys to success

According to its Founder, there have been basically three keys to success:

  • Do what they do well (be it radiology, genetics, molecular diagnostics, pathology, data analysis, etc.)
  • Take care of relations with investors and the type of investors in the company
  • Manage the equity/debt ratio very well

End goal

For Atrys, in the words of its Founder, what they want is to set up a large diagnostic company, with a presence in many countries.

7 days in healthcare (December 27, 2021-January 2, 2022)

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SUMMARY

 

From an international point of view, to highlight the 50th anniversary of “Médecins sans Frontières”; also the impressive success of vaccines that saved hundreds of thousands of lives globally; the great expansion of COVID by the “omicron” variant, which is leading to the record of infections in many countries; as well as the strengthening of three important institutions linked to health in the European Union: the ECDC, the EMA and the HERA. To verify that COVID produced more deaths globally in 2021 than in 2020.

With regard to national news, it should be noted that Spain leads the number of infections in Europe, in the midst of a collapse of Primary Care and pressure on hospital emergencies and, little by little, also on hospitalization areas and ICUs. Antigen tests are scarce and, in addition, they are very expensive. The government submits the MUFACE model to AIReF’s evaluation, which is good news, if that evaluation is done rigorously. The Community of Madrid is tackling a very difficult project: the creation of a health purchasing center. Once again, it is necessary to do it very well, obtain the synergies of the large public buyer, without altering the autonomy of the centers and without evaluating exclusively the price of the items, but other elements (quality, safety for the patient, technical service, etc.)

In relation to companies, it should be noted that this year we will probably see the first Spanish vaccine (HIPRA) in operation, also that El Corte Inglés, Carrefour and Alcampo offer to sell COVID tests in their establishments, something until now reserved for pharmacies.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

 

  • Eight medical advances (not related to COVID) in 2021: 1. The structure of proteins, within reach of an algorithm; 2. Live CRISPR; 3. Closer to the chimera (monkey-human chimeras); 4. New and controversial drug against Alzheimer’s: 5. Neuroprosthesis to communicate; 6. Avoid relapses into depression; 7. Impact of salt on strokes; and 8. Triple “jump” in child transplantation (Diario Médico, Dec 31 21)
  • 50 years after the creation of “Médecins sans Frontières” (Doctors without Borders), founded in 1971, as an independent non-governmental association, currently formed by 25 national or regional associations, which works in more than 70 countries and employs in around 45,000 people (The Lancet, 1 Jan 22)
  • One year of COVID vaccines. In the USA alone there are more than 200 million vaccinated, and the vaccine has prevented millions of COVID-19 cases, thousands of hospitalizations and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. An unprecedented success. Experience indicates that vaccines alone do not save lives, it is the vaccination process that saves them (including manufacturing, distribution and administration), which requires robust organizations (JAMA, Dec 21, 21)
  • The Wellcome’s Global Monitor 2020, which assesses trust in science and scientists, is released. The survey covers 113 countries. Although with large regional differences, it is detected that confidence in science grew during the pandemic (The Lancet, 1 Jan 22)
  • COVID leaves more deaths in the world in 2021 than in the year of its outbreak (El Confidencial, 1 Jan 22)
  • The “omicron” variant produces records of infections in 20 countries, among which are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (FT, Dec 31 21)
  • The United States reduces the period of isolation due to COVID to 5 days (FT, Dec 28 21)
  • The WHO warns of a “tsunami of cases” due to the “omicron” and Delta variants (FT, Dec 29 21)
  • WHO says the pandemic may overwhelm health systems, as cases reach records in Europe (FT, The Guardian, Dec 29 21)
  • Shortage of COVID tests in the UK, as cases rise (FT, Dec 29 21)
  • Europe: promoting the “European Health Union”, reinforcing the ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control) and the EMA (European Medicines Agency) and activating the creation of the HERA (European Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies Agency), which is expected to start operating in early 2022, with an initial budget of 6,000 million euros, although it is expected to reach 30,000 million, with contributions from the States and the private sector (ConSalud, 30 Dec 21)
  • Persistent COVID and its more than 200 sequels already have an official definition (El País, Dec 28 21)
  • According to a survey, one in four Britons do not believe that the NHS can serve them well, which is surprising given the extraordinary prestige of the NHS so far in the UK (The Guardian, 26 Dec 21)

NATIONAL NEWS

  • “Redacción Médica” analyzes the 10 highlights of 2021: 1. COVID has not abandoned us; 2. Filomena tests the capacity for healing; 3. Relief in the Ministry of Health: Darias instead of Illa; 4. Euthanasia, regulated by Law; 5. Spanish stamp for the first public CART therapy in Europe; 6. Controversial choice of MIR places; 7. Industry is ahead of the virus, with an arsenal of vaccines and treatments; 8. Muface “illuminates” the future of health mutualism; 9. Several strategies in Spanish health: Cancer, Mental Health and Primary Care; and, 10. Various variants of COVID (Redacción Médica, Dec 31 21)
  • Elements that are considered essential for 2022: COVID, Primary Care and Mental Health. The Center for Public Health and improvements for professionals is also expected (ConSalud, 1 Jan 22)
  • Spain closes 2021 at the head of infections in Europe (Diario Médico, Dec 31 21)
  • On December 30, 21, the COVID rate reached 1,775 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite everything, no new official information on the number of cases will be published until January 3 (El Español, Dec 31 21)
  • The collapse in primary care due to COVID leads to hospital emergencies (eldiario.es, Dec 26 21)
  • Health and communities agree to reduce the COVID quarantine period to 7 days (La Razón, Dec 29, 21)
  • Antigen tests in Spain: scarcity and high prices, while in other countries (France and the United Kingdom) they are free (El Debate, 1 Jan 22)
  • The Spanish Medicines Agency advises not to buy antigen tests online (El Debate, Dec 28 21)
  • The Council of Ministers endorses the Plan to improve Primary Care (Health Act, Dec 28 21)
  • Numerous unions and scientific societies (especially those linked to Primary Care) demonstrate against the approved Plan (Consalud, Dec 31 21)
  • The MUFACE model will be subject to review, the government instructs AIReF to evaluate it (El Español, Dec 28 21)
  • Very important draft bill of the Community of Madrid: “Draft Bill of urgent measures to promote economic activity and modernization of the Administration of the Community of Madrid”. Article 44 of the preliminary draft develops the Sanitary Contracting Agency of the Community of Madrid, which becomes a health purchasing center for Madrid. It is more than foreseeable that this is a controversial law with suppliers. (Draft project disseminated by the Community of Madrid: https://www.comunidad.madrid/transparencia/sites/default/files/2._anteproyecto_ley_omnibus_texto_completo_21-12-2021_0.pdf)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND MAIN ACTORS IN HEALTH

 

  • 2022: the year in which the first Spanish vaccine will reach patients (El Español, Dec 30 21)
  • Private healthcare, years ahead of the SNS in telemedicine (Redacción Médica, Dec 29 21)
  • J&J (Janssen) Vaccine Protects Against Severe “Omicron”, Study Says (NYT, Dec 30, 21)
  • Teva found liable in the US opioid trial (NYT, Dec 30 21)
  • HM acquires a plot of land in Tres Cantos, for the construction of a university hospital (Acta Sanitaria, 23 Dec 21)
  • HM buys the Dr. Gálvez clinic in Malaga, the fourth clinic that the HM group buys in the region (Málagahoy, Dec 31 21)
  • Atrys has 100 million to buy health companies (El Economista, Dec 29 21)
  • Antigen test manufacturers (such as Abbott, Siemens Healthineers and Roche groups) end the year skyrocketing on the stock market (CincoDías, Dec 28, 21)
  • El Corte Inglés, Carrefour or Alcampo offer to sell antigen tests at their centers, according to their employer Anged (CincoDías, Dec 30 21)
  • Magnum Capital starts the international leap of its Miranza ophthalmology clinics: Portugal and Andorra (CincoDías, Dec 27 21)
  • The Jiménez Díaz Foundation leads for the sixth consecutive year the Hospital Excellence Index of the Coordinates Institute (ABC, Dec 27 21)

7 days in healthcare (December 20-26, 2021)

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Summary

From an international point of view, possibly the most interesting is the summary of the year 2021 by The Lancet; also the studies that seem to show that the “omicron” variant is not only more contagious (which was already known), but that it produces a milder form of disease; the NEJM analyzes Amazon’s health offering; and finally, Israel’s attempts to move forward with the fourth dose.

As for national news, the most relevant thing is the great increase in the pandemic in Spain, which fundamentally translates into pressure on Primary Care and Emergencies, not so much in hospitals; the attitude of the central government in the Conference of Presidents of not imposing restrictive measures, in contrast to what is being done in other European countries; and the failures of the strategic reserve in health, which is causing a great shortage of antigen tests at this time.

With regard to companies and other agents in the sector, it is important to highlight that Europe approves the Novavax vaccine, which would already be the fifth vaccine approved in Europe. Also the authorization of the Merck pill by the FDA for high risk covid. From the point of view of corporate movements, perhaps the most relevant is the purchase of CERNER by Oracle, which may revolutionize the field of hospital informatics.

International

 

  • Farhat Yaqub summarizes for The Lancet the most notable events of 2021 in health: the COVID-19 pandemic, which had produced 3.3 million deaths globally as of December 10, 21, more than in 2020; COVID vaccination, with more than 8.4 billion doses administered through December 11; Biden instead of Trump, one of Biden’s first actions was to sign the executive order for the US to return to the WHO; the health impact of the conflict in Ethiopia; the effects of the decline in UK development aid; the COP 26 meeting in Glascow, which put climate change on the health agenda; the crisis in Afghanistan, the most serious current humanitarian crisis; abortion laws: legal in Argentina, banned in Honduras, severe restrictions in Texas; restrictions also in China; the approved malaria vaccine; severe shortage of midwives (The Lancet, Dec 18 21)
  • Three studies (England, Scotland and South Africa) show that the “omicron” variant produces milder COVID, with much less chance of being admitted to hospital (British Medical Journal, 23 Dec 21)
  • A NEJM article looks at Amazon’s healthcare offering: a combination of telemedicine and home care. Three main actions: mobile app; home assessment by a nurse; distribution of medication at home in two hours. A hybrid experience online and in person (NEJM, 23 Dec 21)
  • COVID vaccines are less effective against the “omicron” variant, says the EMA (FT, Dec 20 21)
  • Israel May Give Fourth Vaccine Dose, Despite Expert Reservations (NYT, Dec 23 21)
  • The “omicron” variant responsible for 75% of the cases in the USA (FT, Dec 21, 21)
  • The “omicron” variant has revealed a world not yet prepared for pandemics (FT, Dec 22 21)
  • US military announce SpFN, a valid vaccine against all variants of the coronavirus, including “omicron” (La Razón, Dec 22 21)
  • The “omicron” variant causes the cancellation of almost 5,000 flights around the world during the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas (CincoDías, 25 Dec 21)

National News

  • The incidence of COVID shoots up to 911 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days (El País, 23 Dec 21)
  • Germany declares Spain as a high-risk territory due to COVID (El País, 23 Dec 21)
  • Sánchez prioritizes the economy in the sixth wave and avoids any restrictive measure in the Conference of Presidents, apart from the mandatory nature of outdoor masks and certain possibilities of hiring professionals without recognized degrees (La Razón, Dec 24 21)
  • Feijóo, Moreno, Urkullu and Aragonés consider that the mask on the street is not enough (El Confidencial, Dec 22 21)
  • Harsh criticism from the General Council of Medical Associations in the absence of measures against COVID: “they seek formulas to avoid the burden of responsibility and fear to implement measures that contradict or further anger citizen-voters” (La Vanguardia, Dec 24 21 )
  • The ICUs of ten communities are already at “high risk” due to patient occupation (Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Navarra, Basque Country and La Rioja) (Vozpópuli, Dec 24 21)
  • The sixth wave will leave 9,000 dead in Spain, according to a study by the University of Washington (IHME, Covid 19 Results Briefing, Spain, December 23, 21)
  • The strategic health reserve falls short and does not alleviate the shortage of tests (El Periódico de España, Dec 25 21)
  • Spain has practiced a hundred euthanasias since the approval of the new law (The Objective, Dec 18 21)
  • Strong statements by President Díaz-Ayuso: “In some health centers, not everyone wants to work and pitch in” (El País, Dec 21, 21)
  • SEMERGEN demands that Díaz-Ayuso reconsider her statements about primary care (ConSalud, Dec 22 21)

Companies, employers and main health actors

 

  • Europe approves the Novavax vaccine. It would be the fifth COVID vaccine approved in Europe, after those of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen (FT, Dec 20 21)
  • Biogen cuts the price of its Alzheimer’s drug in half, due to low sales and divisions by experts about its benefits (FT, Dec 20 21)
  • Merck’s COVID pill is FDA cleared for high-risk adults (NYT, Dec 23, 21)
  • FENIN report on the hospital technological profile, with data updated to December 2020. FENIN has been conducting this study since 2009 (FENIN, Dec 21)
  • “MiQuirónsalud”, the portal that the hospital group makes available to its patients, exceeds four million users (ConSalud, Dec 21 21)
  • Oracle buys CERNER for more than 28,000 million euros to grow in health (PlantaDoce, Dec 22 21)
  • Atrys Health acquires 100% of Simm Molecular, which is dedicated to medical diagnosis in nuclear medicine (PlantaDoce, Dec 17 21)
  • Health in code and the Portuguese Algarve Biomedical Center sign an agreement for genetic diagnosis (PlantaDoce, Dec 22 21)
  • MBA (a medical technology company very oriented to orthopedics-traumatology and based in Asturias), until now owned by Alantra, is acquired by the Swedish group Addlife for 111 million euros (Medical Writing, 23 Dec 21)
  • Viamed, owned by the Macquarie fund, acquires the Fuensanta hospital in Madrid, until now owned by the Merina family. With this, Viamed now reaches 12 hospitals in Spain (PlantaDoce, 23 Dec 21)

7 days in healthcare (13-19 December, 2021)

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Summary

From an international point of view, perhaps the most striking thing is the great growth worldwide of the “omicron” variant, already present in 89 countries. Although it is clear that it is much more transmissible than the Delta variant, it is not clear that the disease is milder. Some countries in Europe decree confinements. The effectiveness of COVID passports is demonstrated, in terms of increased vaccinations. Figures for healthcare spending in the United States are released in 2020, spending increased significantly, especially federal spending, related to COVID. It reaches 19.7% of GDP (which is said soon). It is also striking that for the first time in the history of the United States, public health spending exceeds private spending.

Regarding national news, great concern about the rapid expansion of the pandemic, which forces the President of the government to convene a Conference of Presidents, for two days before Christmas Eve, which prevents measures from being adopted for Christmas. The plenary session of the Interterritorial Council approves the “Primary and Community Care Plan 2022-2023”, a set of good intentions and the announcement of measures that, where appropriate, would have to be implemented by the autonomous communities. Once again you see how difficult “co-governance” without good governance.

In relation to the activity of companies and other agents in the sector, the activity of vaccine manufacturing companies continues. Two things are difficult to understand: the letter from the President of the Madrid Medical Association to the President of ASISA and the launch by DKV-Yoigo of a medical insurance for 20 euros. We believed, on the one hand, that health insurance companies were free to hire their medical staff; and, on the other hand, that it was difficult to continue lowering the price of health insurance in our country. It is true that in the United States and other countries online insurance, Oscar type, is emerging with cheaper policies than conventional insurance. But in Spain the policies are already very cheap and I do not think that it is about making policies for young and healthy people, who hardly consume health care.

International

  • The “omicron” variant advances at an incredible speed (The Economist, 18 Dec 21)
  • The ECDC warns that vaccination alone is not enough and calls for drastic measures (La Razón, Dec 15 21)
  • The “omicron” variant grows 70 times faster than the Delta in bronchial tissue (The Guardian, Dec 15 21)
  • The “omicron” variant is already present in 89 countries and is growing rapidly, according to the WHO (The Guardian, 18 Dec 21)
  • There is no evidence that the “omicron” variant is more benign than the delta (FT, Dec 17 21)
  • Seven people die in the United Kingdom from the “omicron” variant (El Independiente, 18 Dec 21)
  • The Netherlands decrees a new strict confinement until January 14 (El Periódico de España, Dec 18 21)
  • COVID passports have a positive effect on the number of vaccinated, according to an international study carried out in six countries (Denmark, Israel, Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland), (The Lancet, Dec 13 21)
  • The United States exceeds 800,000 deaths from COVID, the country with the highest mortality (The Guardian, Dec 15 21)
  • The scientific advances of 2021, according to the journal Science (the ease of identifying the structure of proteins, the most significant advance. In relation to medicine, several advances: treatments for COVID-19; psychedelic drugs versus some psychiatric disorders; artificial antibodies to infectious diseases; CRISP tools to modify genes within the body; Alzheimer’s medication, despite doubts about its efficacy) (Science, Dec 17, 219
  • The figures for healthcare spending in the USA in 2020 are published. The growth was 9.7% over the previous year, which had grown by 4.3%. The acceleration is due to the increase in federal spending, which grew 36%, especially in relation to COVID. The percentage of GDP dedicated to health reached 19.7%. The number of uninsured decreased. For the first time in US history, public health spending surpasses private spending (51% vs 49%) (Health Affairs, January, 22)
  • The repetition of epidemics due to different types of coronavirus (SARS, 2002 and 2003; MERS, since 2012 and COVID-19, since 2019) leads some to demand a kind of universal vaccine against coronaviruses. The article is signed, among others, by Fauci (New England Journal of Medicine, Dec 15, 2021)
  • Medicare Advantage for All, a potential pathway to universal coverage in the USA. Against Medicare for All, it would keep private insurers (JAMA, Dec 16 21)

Nationals

  • Spain is at a very high risk of contagion, after exceeding an incidence of 500 per 100,000 in the last fourteen days (El País, 17 Dec 21)
  • Sánchez calls the conference of presidents for next week, given the worsening of the pandemic (El País, 18 Dec 21)
  • Announcement on TV on Sunday, December 19, by Sánchez of the presidents’ conference for Wednesday, December 22, without advancing any measures. Logically, due to the date, there is no possibility of organizing measures for Christmas (El Mundo, 19 Dec 21)
  • Navarra and the Basque Country among the five regions with the most COVID in Europe (El Español, Dec 16 21)
  • Third dose for people over 40 and vaccinated with AstraZeneca (El Confidencial, Dec 16 21)
  • Spain is at the forefront of Europe in excess of mortality, according to the EuroMoMo (The Objective, 19 Dec 21)
  • On December 15, the plenary session of the Interterritorial Council approved the “Plan for Primary and Community Care 2022-2023”, continuation of the “Strategic Framework for Primary and Community Care”, approved in 2019 and never implemented. The plan is a set of promises, which to a large extent have to be implemented by the autonomous communities (such as the finalist budget, telemedicine and others). The plan is strongly criticized by SEMERGEN (Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians and by FADSP (Federation of Associations for the Defense of Public Health) (Infolibre, Dec 16 21)
  • Antigen test: pharmacies appear to be short of supplies (El País, 19 Dec 21)
  • The Government (Ministry of Social Affairs and Agenda 2030) proposes to limit the residences for the elderly to a maximum of 50 places, as well as some ratios of staff per resident. The text must be consensual, which seems difficult (Infolibre, Dec 17 21)

Companies, employers and other agents in the sector

 

  • María Vila, elected President of FENIN (El Español, Dec 14 21)
  • Ana Polanco, reelected President of ASEBIO (Planta Doce, 16 Dec 21)
  • Letter from the President of the College of Physicians of Madrid to ASISA, reproaching him for the dismissal of doctors for the MUFACE system (Sanifax, Dec 15 21)
  • Spain has already manufactured 380 million vaccines for COVID (CincoDías, Dec 17, 21)
  • Catalonia creates a venture capital fund to promote scientific entrepreneurship (PlantaDoce, Dec 16 21)
  • The European Medicines Agency approves Pfizer’s anti-COVID pill (El Debate, 16 Dec 21)
  • Pfizer’s (Paxlovid) anti-COVID pill works well against the “omicron” variant, the company confirms (NYT, Dec 14 21)
  • The WHO and the EMA could approve the American vaccine NOVAVAX next week (FT, Dec 16 21)
  • Oracle, about to buy CERNER for US $ 30,000 million (FT, Dec 17 21)
  • The CDC discourages the use of the J&J vaccine, due to some clot problems (NYT, Dec 16 21)
  • Sanofi intends to request approval of its vaccine again (FT, Dec 15 21)
  • The IMED healthcare group invoices 12% more and its profit almost doubles, reaching 6 million (Valencia Plaza, Dec 15, 21)
  • The CEU and ASISA sign an agreement for the training of students at the HLA Moncloa hospital (El Debate, 18 Dec 21)
  • Venture capital is pushing for the formation of MIRs. The CVC fund studies buying MIR Asturias (El Periódico de España, 19 Dec 21)
  • Vivanta requests a ransom of 40 million euros from SEPI (PlantaDoce, Dec 16 21)
  • Quirón proton therapy successfully treats its first 100 children (ConSalud, Dec 14 21)
  • Philips expands its portfolio with the purchase of Vesper Medical (PlantaDoce, Dec 15 21)
  • Modern: agreement to bring a mRNA vaccine factory to Australia (PlantaDoce, Dec 14 21)
  • Company health insurance will become more expensive by 7.2% in 2022 (PlantaDoce, Dec 14 21)
  • Grifols sells VCN Biosciences for 66 million euros (PlantaDoce, Dec 15 21)
  • CSL acquires Vitor Pharma for 11.7 billion dollars (PlantaDoce, Dec 16 21)
  • Asistensi and Clínica de Navarra, agreement to export health insurance to immigrants (PlantaDoce, Dec 16 21)
  • Ysios enters the Dutch Northsea leading a round of 77 million euros (El Economista, Dec 17 21)
  • Biontech investors are studying buying Sandoz (El Economista, Dec 14 21)
  • Atrys Health acquires Simm molecular (Expansión, Dec 17 21)
  • DKV and the telephone company Yoigo launch a family health insurance for less than twenty euros (El Economista, 9 Dec 21)
  • The Savana company, founded in 2014, with an ecosystem of 160 hospitals in Europe and America, intends to lead the “healthcare data lake” (El Economista, 18 Dec 21)
  • Rovi receives the European recommendation for its own research antipsychotic (CincoDías, 17 Dec 21)
  • Almirall wins the rights to a drug against autoimmune diseases (CincoDías, Dec 14 21)