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7 days in healthcare (April 29th-May 5th, 2024)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, apart from advances in biological sciences, the American Journal of Medicine reflects in open articles on two very new elements in the new medical practice: what face-to-face contacts with the patient represent versus digital ones and the importance of Artificial Intelligence in the doctor-patient relationship. Digital technologies can revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered, enabling convenient, remote consultations. This should not lead us to underestimate the value of personal contact, which creates relationships and trust between patients and healthcare professionals. Non-verbal communication and physical examination are two great advantages of the in-person relationship. However, there are also numerous studies that show that telemedicine and telephone consultations have advantages in certain circumstances. Regarding AI in medicine, the conclusion is that, although evolving, it can offer great advantages, which are not available today. Animal experimentation raises hopes for the emergence of a universal flu vaccine, avoiding dependence on annual doses adapted to each year’s versions of the virus.

Regarding Global Health, New England Journal of Medicine editorial: The search for transformative tools to eradicate malaria. The conclusion is that there is no “silver bullet”, but rather a combination of interventions through a set of products and actions. Science Editorial: A treatise on pandemics is within reach. At the end of May, 194 WHO member countries will meet in the Assembly that will discuss the pandemic treaty, discussed over two years. In the course of the discussion, a false dilemma has emerged between science and innovation and equity. Equity is an ethical imperative. The Lancet Editorial: Housing as an important determinant of health. Unhealthy housing is correlated with poor health outcomes. Various articles point out the impact of climate change on very serious threats to health: the emergence of resistant superbacteria, the explosion of zoonotic diseases and the resurgence of malaria.

In terms of International Health Policy, the American government is about to classify cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Already three-quarters of Americans live in states where this drug is legal. This new federal classification could have significant economic repercussions. Important legislative changes regarding abortion in Arizona and Florida. President Biden proposes to regain, through a law, federal control over this issue. This law has no chance of being approved. Both immigration and abortion are the two big issues of this year’s American presidential campaign. In Sweden, the social model, to the limit. Conflicts are repeated among workers of the welfare state. The European Union publishes an evaluation of the implementation of the 2011 cross-border health directive (Directive 2011/24/EU). As is known, this Directive allows you to claim non-urgent health care in a European country other than the one of residence with an expense reimbursement system. The study, which analyzes 2022, draws attention to the low number of requests for assistance in Spain, despite being a tourist power that receives tens of millions of European tourists each year.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the government approves the Anti-Tobacco Plan 2024-2027, without raising the price of tobacco, which is criticized by experts, despite the fact that the increase in tobacco taxation was in the document approved on April 5 in the Interterritorial Council. The Non-Smoking Association says that, without an increase in the price of tobacco, we will continue to be Europe’s tobacconist. According to the WHO, tobacco taxes are the most effective means of reducing the prevalence of smoking. In most European countries, tobacco taxes are between 80 and 90 percent, while in Spain it is 51 percent. 22.1% of the adult population in our country continues to smoke, according to the 2020 European Health Survey and it causes close to 50,000 deaths per year. The fact that the price of tobacco has not been modified and that certain measures of the Plan require the approval of laws, in a highly uncertain legislature, mean that the Plan runs the risk of becoming a dead letter, despite the publicity from which it has come. accompanied by its approval. The Zendal hospital in Madrid already cares for ALS patients. The Community received advice from experts, relatives and caregivers of ALS, regarding the non-participation of these groups in the opening of the hospital itself, which is why the change in criteria of action must be celebrated. In Asturias, 400 positions that are difficult to fill are detected, only among doctors, according to the medical union. According to this union, the solution is to offer economic and non-economic incentives. Among the latter are aid to families, daycare, travel and housing. All of this is in contradiction with the current Statute-Framework, which is so allergic to any form of individual and collective recognition and differentiation. Given the instability among healthcare personnel in Catalonia, the president of the Council of Medical Associations demands an escape from the civil service system and asks to provide the teams with freedom and management capacity. Galicia has success with the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus against childhood bronchiolitis. This winter, the community has immunized nine out of ten babies against RSV and has managed to prevent 80% from ending up in the hospital. Interesting initiative in some autonomous communities, such as Madrid and Murcia, by offering financial aid, if certain requirements are met, for access to the dentist, beyond the limited coverage of the public system.

As for Companies, internationally, Pfizer plans a direct-to-consumer platform for covid and migraine medications. The American group follows Lilly in setting up a website for patients to obtain medication online. NovoNordisk cuts price of anti-obesity drug Wegowy as competition heats up. As for national information, in Spain anti-obesity therapy from NovoNordisk (Wegovy, which will be available in pharmacies in the coming days) will cost up to 292 euros per month. Hipra announces its Covid vaccine adapted to the JN1 variant for this fall. The Quirón hospital in Gijón faces the latest urban planning procedures.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

  • Central government initiatives
    • The government approves the Anti-Tobacco Plan 2024-2027, without raising the price of tobacco, which is criticized by experts, despite the fact that the increase in tobacco taxation was in the document approved on April 5 in the Interterritorial Council . The Non-Smoking Association says that, without an increase in the price of tobacco, we will continue to be Europe’s tobacconist. According to the WHO, tobacco taxes are the most effective means of reducing the prevalence of smoking. In most European countries, tobacco taxes are between 80 and 90 percent, while in Spain it is 51 percent. Although taxes on tobacco raise around 9 billion euros annually, it is estimated that the expenditure derived from smoking triples this amount. 22.1% of the adult population in our country continues to smoke, according to the 2020 European Health Survey and it causes close to 50,000 deaths per year. The materialization of the Plan’s measures will be through legislative reforms (https://www.alimente.elconfidencial.com/bienestar/2024-05-03/gobierno-tabaco-fumadores-precio-cigarrillos_3877594/)
    • The Interterritorial creates the Primary Care Commission and the Waiting List Working Group (https://gacetamedica.com/politica/el-interterritorial-crea-la-comision-de-atencion-primaria-y-el-grupo-of-work-of-waiting-lists/)

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 (October 24th-30th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth highlighting the studies that show that certain types of breast cancer, which respond to chemotherapy, will not require surgery. The link between Alzheimer’s and certain viruses is surprising. As for proton therapy, it seems that an increase in its indications (prostate, lung, etc.) is in sight.

As far as Global Health is concerned, the WHO study on a prioritized list of fungal threats should be noted. Cases of resistant tuberculosis, on the rise, which is a big problem with high mortality. Shortage of cholera vaccines. “Nature” magazine considers the possible second term of Bolsonaro in Brazil as a threat to science, democracy, the environment and the world. Said alarm had already been launched by this magazine as a result of his first term.

As for International Health Policy, monkeypox is in clear recession and covid is apparently less serious, possibly due to increased immunity. The truth is that mortality and cases requiring hospitalization are falling. Plan in the United Kingdom so that pharmacies can collaborate in the treatment of minor disorders (hypertension, high cholesterol, etc.)

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), a surprising proposal from ASPE to the Ministry of Health for the homologation of foreign doctors through a kind of two-year express MIR. The problem is surely more complex and it should be considered that we are one of the countries with the most doctors per 1,000 inhabitants and the most Faculties of Medicine. To analyze the shortage by areas and specialties, as well as the expansion of nursing work. It is doubtful that exporting quality doctors after an excellent MIR and importing foreign doctors with an express MIR is the solution. Perhaps the salary and working conditions of Spanish doctors should also be considered. Also striking is the new approach of the PSOE in terms of the Trans law, which tries to involve judges in changing sex between 12 and 15 years, compared to the bill approved by the Council of Ministers, which did not contemplate this possibility. AESEG, very willing to increase the use of generics, through regulatory and price changes.

In the field of Companies, at the international level, the extensive job cuts at Philips are striking, after its withdrawal of devices for sleep apnea. As for Spain, Sanitas publishes a study on mental health, which shows that the private health sector is agile in its response to a serious problem, which has become more evident after covid. Orange’s agreement with Mapfre confirms the great interest of telecommunications platforms in the world of health and their need to ally with traditional operators.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies