Posts

7 days in healthcare (October, 10th-16th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, to review the advances in knowledge of the human organ that, to a large extent, remains a mystery, the brain: the implantation of human cells in mice, which can send signals and the creation of a kind of synthetic intelligence, by verifying that nerve cells in a dish can learn. In the United States, it is found that mortality from breast cancer has decreased a lot, due to early detection and better treatments. Something that is not exclusive to the United States and that surely also occurs in Spain.

As far as Global Health is concerned, the serious health problems, for very different reasons, in Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Lebanon must be highlighted.

Regarding international health policy, there is great concern in the WHO and other organizations about the effects of persistent covid. Threat of hospitals in Germany by covid. The Economist introduces the debate on the legalization of cocaine, which it strongly defends, considering that the problems of an illegal market far outweigh those that could arise in a controlled market. Put the simile of whiskey and cigarettes.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the rise in the incidence of covid continues, although in Spain without notably affecting hospitals. Promising launch of the Neurotechnology Center in Madrid.

In the field of companies, at the international level, the WTO (World Trade Organization) continues with its efforts to free the patents of medicines related to covid. As far as Spain is concerned, HIPRA suffers a new delay in the approval of its vaccine by the EMA, which practically excludes it from the fourth dose vaccination campaign.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

  • European Union
    • A step forward towards a Europe of health. The reinforcement of the ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control), the EMA (European Medicines Agency) and the creation of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, constitute important steps towards a European policy of health, something not contemplated in the founding European treaties (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01980-8/fulltext)
  • The debate on the legalization of cocaine
  • New Code of Medical Ethics
    • Approved the new International Code of Medical Ethics of the World Medical Association. After the initial version of this Code in 1949, a new wording has been approved at the General Assembly of the World Medical Association, held in Berlin in October 2022 (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2797507)

National health policy

Companies

 

 

7 days in healthcare (August 29th-September 4th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, the great impact of the study by scientists from the University of Oviedo, who have studied the genes of a species of jellyfish, which incorporates rejuvenation elements in its life cycle, should be highlighted.

With regard to Global Health, historical decline in life expectancy in the United States, which went to 76 years in 2021, compared to 79 in 2019. The covid, the main responsible, although not the only one. Presumably we will see a similar phenomenon in Europe and in Spain.

Regarding International health policy, both the FDA and the EMA approve the covid vaccine boosters, despite some questions that have been pointed out by the journal Science. In the UK, long waiting lists in the public sector are leading to a boom in direct payment systems for healthcare.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the two most relevant issues are the approval of the bill that creates the Spanish Public Health Agency, subject to hearing and public information; and the draft Law on Abortion, which has very controversial elements, such as abortion in women aged 16-18 without information or parental consent; conscientious objection for doctors (on whose regulation the WTO has ruled negatively); the obligation to carry out this practice in public centers; and the dispensing of the morning after pill. Surprising statements by the President of the Community of Madrid, who attributes the shortage of doctors to the lack of Faculties of Medicine, contrary to what had been the opinion of the State Confederation of Medical Students and the Conference of Deans of Faculties of Medicine, with the support of the Forum of the Medical Profession. And the fact that only South Korea surpasses Spain in the ratio of Faculties of Medicine per million inhabitants.

In the field of companies, health has jumped into the metaverse with a business of 5,060 million dollars, although we will have to be very attentive to what we call metatarsus. HIPRA starts a trial to study its covid vaccine as a fourth dose.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (August 15-21, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, the first drug is prepared using CRISPR (gene editing) technology. Important publication from The Lancet in the largest effort yet to identify risk factors in relation to cancer. Not surprisingly, however, tobacco and alcohol are the biggest risk factors, particularly tobacco.

As far as Global Health is concerned, polio is back and the UK is now offering vaccinations to children in London between the ages of 1 and 9.

Regarding international health policy, the famous North American Inflation Reduction Act has been signed by President Biden. Despite its name, the law has more to do with climate change and health, especially drug prices. No large growth in monkeypox is predicted, based on modeling carried out by The Economist. Deaths from covid remain high (15,000 a week globally) warns the Director General of the WHO. The Director of the American CDC denounces serious failures in the management of covid and announces substantial changes in the functioning of this body. A clear contrast to what is happening in Spain, where no conclusions seem to be drawn from the management of covid, despite being one of the most affected countries in terms of the number of cases and mortality in relation to the population.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the good news are that covid continues to decline, although there are still 62 deaths per day. The approval of the State Center for Public Health, scheduled for next week, is possibly the biggest consequence of covid. The birth rate in Spain falls to historical lows.

In the field of companies, drug prices break historical records in the USA. In Spain, HIPRA is preparing to manufacture 250 million doses of covid vaccines, pending approval by the EMA.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

7 days in healthcare (1st-7th August 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, to highlight the use of monoclonal antibodies to combat malaria; also the return to life of cells and tissues in dead pigs, which may be important in transplants; and, the fact that the genomic map of chronic lymphatic leukemia has been completed, which, sooner or later, will have consequences in the treatment of this disease.

As far as Global Health is concerned, the poor preparation of most countries in the face of the increasingly frequent heat waves is confirmed, according to The Lancet.

As for international health policy, the United States declares monkeypox a public health emergency, the Administration covering itself up against certain accusations of slowness in dealing with this problem; global decline in the number of covid cases, particularly in Europe. Problems continue in the United States due to restrictions on abortion. Three news to highlight in the United States: the number of uninsured reaches the record low figure of 8%; the American Democrats have a majority in Congress within reach to approve the law that tries to reduce the price of medicines, by way of allowing Medicare to negotiate prices; and, finally, for the first time in decades, health spending in the United States fell in the first quarter of 2022, although it is doubtful that this will continue.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), monkeypox continues with a very high number of infected people and a shortage of vaccines; large drop in the incidence of covid. Great and difficult to justify delay in the report commissioned by the Ministry of Health from experts on the management of the covid pandemic. Surely there will be more than technical analysis problems in the cause of this delay. The doctors of the private health, threaten with the copayment, before what they consider low rates of the insurers.

In the field of companies, Pfizer continues with its aggressive policy of buying companies, while the growth of Quirónsalud, which already exceeds 2 billion euros in turnover, should be highlighted.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

7 days in healthcare (July 4th-10th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, to highlight the finding that cancer drugs significantly reduce the mortality of patients hospitalized for covid.

With regard to Global Health, an important WHO report on mental health, the last of said organization on the same subject dates back to 2001. The Lancet publishes an interesting article on road safety: no less than 1.35 million deaths a year and 50 million injuries depend on that security. Compared to what was usual in the years before covid and the war in Ukraine, hunger has grown in the world, moving us away from the Sustainable Development Goals. The development of health systems in Africa collides with the shortage of professionals.

Regarding international health policy, it should be noted that the USA has just bought 2.5 million vaccines against monkeypox. The WHO and the EMA warn of the new wave of covid. New “centaurus” subvariant of covid, originating in India, but already widely disseminated. Biden signs an executive order, in order to protect abortion rights. The United States doubles the use of telehealth since the outbreak of the pandemic.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the wave of covid continues to grow, with an increased impact on hospitals. New approved version of the Framework Statute of Health Personnel, which tries to avoid prolonged temporary periods, which was necessary, but consolidating the statutory regime, which we believe is not good news and in line with what the public health system needs , although perhaps the unions. First regulation in relation to nursing prescription, long awaited. Important report from the Platform of Patient Organizations, showing how chronic patients suspend the health care they receive. Javier Murillo, the undisputed leader in the health insurance sector, warns about the risk of disappearance of administrative mutualism (MUFACE model), since it continuously produces losses. The CAPFF, chaired by the prestigious economist Félix Lobo, releases his report, demanding changes in the regulation of the price of medicines in the SNS, to reinforce “legal certainty.”

In the field of companies, FEFE gives us the news that the pharmaceutical industry already sells more in hospitals than in primary care, a great change. The ASEBIO Report highlights the growth of the sector both in business volume and in investments. It seems that HIPRA, the Spanish vaccine against covid, is getting closer to being approved by the EMA.

Biomedicine

Global health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

7 days in healthcare (30th May-5th June, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, to highlight the Science article, showing that the brain and the immune system are interconnected. Monkeypox is transmitted by direct contact, therefore “ring vaccination” is indicated, only to contacts of an infected person.

As far as Global Health is concerned, the universal coverage approach in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, should be highlighted. It is seen that universal coverage is no longer just something of Europe or the industrialized countries.

As for international health policy, the frequent shootings in American schools are covered by medical journals (The Lancet, British Medical Journal), as it is also a health problem. Something perfectly avoidable.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), it should be mentioned that private health offers to collaborate with public health in addressing the problem of waiting lists.

In the field of companies, Takeda’s statements are surprising, saying that pharmaceutical companies will be able to lower prices in the face of a global crisis. The acquisition of the HIPRA vaccine by Brussels is advancing.

Biomedicine

Global health

International health policy

  • Monkeypox

o 21 Americans affected by monkeypox, according to the CDC (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/health/monkeypox-vaccine-treatments.html)

o New York Times editorial: To fight monkeypox we have to learn the lessons of covid and HIV (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/29/opinion/monkeypox-covid-and- hiv.html)

o Concern in Europe that massive summer parties spread monkeypox (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220605/8317253/pretrabajo-fiestas-masivas-verano-extend-viruela-mono.html)

  • COVID-19

o Covid cases on the rise in the Americas: North and Central America) (https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1355)

o Does the world need new covid vaccines? (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2204695)

o Doubts about whether the arrival BA.4 and BA.5 of the omicron will mean a new wave of covid in France (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2022/06/04/covid-19 -l-arrivee-de-ba-4-et-ba-5-en-france-va-t-elle-entrainer-une-nouvelle-vague-de-contaminations_6128892_3244.html)

o The subvariant of the BA.5 omicron is a cause of concern in Portugal (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2022/06/04/au-portugal-le-sous-variant-ba-5-d-omicron -restless_6128944_3244.html)

o The zero-covid policy in China is unfeasible in the long run, the only question is when it will abandon it to “live with covid”. Article in Science magazine (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add1891)

  • Other themes

o The frequent shootings in American schools, also as a health problem, treated in medical journals. The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01006-6/fulltext; British Medical Journal: https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1378

o The black market of antivirals for covid (https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1282)

o Shortage of doctors in Italy (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01009-1/fulltext)

o Medical abortion and telemedicine in a post-Roe v Wade phase (https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1393)

o The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) in the USA plans to advance Value Based Healthcare (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2792275)

National health policy

  • Monkeypox

o Spain reaches 132 positives for monkeypox (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/infecciosas/viruela-mono-espana-casos_115507_102.html)

  • COVID

o The incidence of covid in people over 60 years of age falls 45 points again (https://www.abc.es/sociedad/abci-incidencia-covid-mayores-60-anos-volve-caer-45-puntos-202206031649_noticia .html)

  • Regulatory announcements

o The Order to allocate 217 places to non-EU citizens was published in the Official Bulletin (BOE) (https://www.consalud.es/especial-mir/boe-orden-adjudicar-217-plazas-mir-vacantes-extracomunitarios_115651_102.html)

  • Other themes

o Private healthcare offers to reduce surgical waiting lists by 30%, according to ASPE (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/11799678/06/22/La-sanidad-privada- offered-to-reduce-the-surgical-waiting-list-by-30.html)

o Aragon extends dental care up to 14 years of age (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/aragon/aragon-amplia-hasta-14-anos-programa-atencion-salud-bucodental_115455_102.html)

Companies

  • International News

o GSK is going to buy the Affinivax biotech group for 3.0 billion dollars (https://www.ft.com/content/3a5e33ea-1af6-4554-bf50-225441fe4c24)

o BMS about to acquire drugmaker Turning Point for $4.1 billion (https://www.ft.com/content/9c5b319c-20c3-4558-826f-260d0698975b)

o Takeda says that pharmaceutical companies could lower prices in the face of a global crisis (https://www.ft.com/content/492beff8-a077-421e-8da9-faf378e15175)

o The company that manufactures the monkeypox vaccine has the capacity to produce 30 million doses (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20220531/empresa-fabrica-vacuna-viruela-capacity-produce -millions/676432695_0.html)

  • National News

o Brussels finalizes the acquisition of the HIPRA vaccine for covid (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/11791545/05/22/Bruselas-ultima-la-adquisicion-de-la-vacuna-espanola-de -Hipra-for-the-Covid.html)

o HM acquires the Los Nogales Pontones center to build a new hospital (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/hm-hospitales-acquire-el-centro-los-nogales-pontones-para-levantar-un-nuevo- hospital.html)

o Vithas recovers from the covid downturn and grows 19% in 2021 (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/vithas-se-recupera-del-bache-del-covid-19-y-crece-un -Jan-19-2021.html)

o Grupo HLA targets 500 million revenues in 2022 (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/grupo-hla-apunta-a-500-millones-de-euros-en-ingresos-en-2022.html)

o The contracting of medical insurance skyrockets in Cantabria and Catalonia in 2021. At the national level, 24% of the population has private medical insurance, although low cost ones are included (only consultations and tests) (https://www. .elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20220605/contratacion-seguros-medicos-dispara-cantabria-cataluna/677432488_0.html)

o The laboratories devastate the funds in their bid for Lacer (https://www.expansion.com/empresas/2022/05/30/6293eb1ee5fdea29048b45f4.html)

o Vithas has an agenda to achieve the 2030 goals (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/privada/vithas-se-fija-2025-para-alcanzar-el-80-de-los-objetivos-de-la -phonebook-2030-9828)

o DKV presents the 2021 corporate report and the Imagina 2025 Strategic Plan (https://dkv.es/corporativo/sala-prensa/noticias/informe-anual-2021)

7 days in healthcare (April 11-17, 2022)

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SUMMARY

From the point of view of biomedicine, it is important to highlight the fact that greater access to antibiotics (reduced in many countries) is a basic element to overcome the pandemic of resistance to these drugs. Cases of acute hepatitis in children, detected in the United Kingdom and also in Spain, have been the subject of an alert by the WHO and the ECDC. Some of them require liver transplantation.

With regard to Global Health, the financing of the WHO is one of the great issues of global health, since this organization has always had a financing well below its challenges.

As for international health policy, President Biden’s Memorandum on “long covid” should be noted. Also the important article published in The Lancet that analyzes the circumstances surrounding the incidence of covid and its mortality in 177 countries, with some interesting conclusions. The “zero-covid” policy in China and, specifically, the confinement of Shanghai, continues to occupy the international front pages and is a policy that is beginning to be highly questioned, despite its successes so far in both the number of cases and in mortality, as in economic impact, if we believe the official figures from China. Great expectations regarding the new agency created by the Biden Administration: the ARPS-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health)

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), 50,000 doses of covid have finally been distributed, albeit with great delay compared to the initial promises, although without having agreed on criteria regarding their use. Interesting proposal to the Ministry of Health of the Medical Collegiate Organization (OMC) on medical recertification, which includes a supervisory agency OMC-FACME, similar to a British one.

In the field of companies, from the international point of view, to highlight the declines in sales of covid vaccines. Regarding national news, the announcement of the forthcoming arrival of the HIPRA vaccine should be highlighted.

 BIOMEDICINE

GLOBAL HEALTH

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

  • COVID

o President Biden’s memorandum on addressing the “long COVID” (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/04/05/memorandum-on-addressing-the-long-term- effects-of-covid-19/). Article on the subject in JAMA magazine: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2791210

o Preparedness for the pandemic and covid, an analysis of 177 countries. The relationship between various circumstances and the incidence of covid, as well as mortality, are analyzed (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00172-6/fulltext). Comments on this article, the WHO and health systems remain unprepared to deal with a pandemic like covid, which caused 494 million cases and more than 6 million deaths, as of April 5, 2022: https://www. thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00425-1/fulltext

o Shanghai lockdown shows signs of desperation among the population and lack of food (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/17/shanghai-lockdown-desperation-rises-food-runs-low-china )

o The mystery of China with “ómicron”: 280,000 infections and zero deaths (https://www.abc.es/sociedad/abci-misterio-china-omicron-280000-contagios-y-cero-muertes-202204150122_noticia.html)

o The WHO confirms a decrease in new covid cases worldwide, for the third consecutive week (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/04/13/la-oms-confirma-la-disminucion-de-nuevos -covid-cases-around-the-world)

o Covid infections start to fall in the UK (https://www.ft.com/content/0c2fc3ce-be3f-41b1-8b1f-e1b729882720)

o Valneva, the Franco-Austrian vaccine against covid, is the sixth approved in the United Kingdom (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/14/valneva-approved-to-be-uks-sixth -covid-vaccine)

o The FDA authorizes the first breath-based covid test that produces results in less than three minutes (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/15/us/the-fda-authorizes-the- first-covid-19-breath-test.html)

  • Other themes

o Expectations about the new health agency created by Biden, called ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health). Editorial in Science magazine (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq4814)

o The number of people on the NHS waiting list at record high (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/apr/14/number-of-people-on-nhs-waiting-lists-in-england -at-record-high)

o The number of primary care physicians (GPs) in the UK, down every year since 2015. Organizations representing doctors say the heavy workload, high expectations of patients, difficulties recruiting non-medical staff and the fear of errors due to overload, at the base of this situation (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/apr/11/gp-numbers-in-england-down-every-year-since-2015 -pledge-to-raise-them)

o A lawsuit by Cuban doctors has been accepted by the US justice system, accusing the PAHO (WHO organization for Latin America) of collaborating in the “forced labor” of Cuban doctors sent to Brazil (https://www. .bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o962)

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o Spain, the rich country where life expectancy fell the most due to the pandemic, after the United States (https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20220414/espana-pais-rico-cayo-esperanza-pandemia-unidos /664683895_0.html)

o The covid increased health spending in 2020 by 10.9%, a record figure (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/04/06/la-covid-incremento-el-gasto-sanitario-en-2020 -a-109-a-figure-record)

o The Ministry of Health has already distributed 50,000 doses of Paxlovid in Spain (https://www.consalud.es/politica/ministerio-sanidad/sanidad-distribuido-espana-50000-dosis-farmaco-covid-19-paxlovid_113219_102.html)

  • Other themes

o Three cases of childhood hepatitis of unknown origin detected in Spain, following an international alert from the WHO and the ECDC, originating in the United Kingdom (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-04-13/detectado- in-spain-the-first-case-of-an-infantile-hepatitis-of-unknown-origin.html)

o Spain, at the tail of the large European markets in access to cancer and orphan drugs (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/medicina-preventiva/politica/espana-la-cola-de-los-grandes-mercados -europeans-in-access-oncology-drugs-and-orphans.html)

o The Government wants to reduce tobacco consumption, without prohibiting smoking (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-04-10/espana-quiere-desatascar-la-caida-de-fumadores-sin-recurr-a-la- prohibition.html)

o The Collegiate Medical Organization (OMC) makes a proposal to the Ministry of Health on medical recertification according to the English model with three measures. It proposes that the OMC-FACME could be the supervisory agency, similar to the “Professionals Standards Authority for Health and Social Care”, of the United Kingdom (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/medicina/- English-model-of -medical-recertification-with-3-measures-of-competence-6828)

o The Spanish transplant model triumphs in Latin America, where organ donation grew by 100% between 2005 and 2019 (https://www.consalud.es/politica/donacion-organos-iberoamerica-programa-espanol_112999_102.html)

o Harassment of women who go to abortion clinics is declared a crime, through a modification of the Penal Code (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/acoso-mujeres-acudan-clinicas-abortar-delito-jueves_113177_102. html)

o Family Medicine, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry and Radiodiagnosis, among the specialties that will have to increase their MIR offer to alleviate the deficit, according to a recent report (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/profesion/espana-pagara-en -five-years-the-lack-of-planning-in-medical-templates.html)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR

  • International News

o Walgreens, the American pharmacy chain, flooded the market with opiates and is accused of creating addicts (https://www.consalud.es/ecsalud/internacional/walgreens-farmaceutica-opiaceos-mercado-crear-adictos_113123_102.html)

o GSK, about to buy Sierra Oncology for 1,500 million pounds to boost its oncology offer (https://www.ft.com/content/d26ea24f-1ea9-4b09-842d-4708090bfe42)

o The vaccine business drops, with a 21% drop in sales (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20220412/business-vacunas-anticovid-cae-prevision-ventas-demanda/ 664183929_0.html)

  • National News

o Farmaindustria pays 452 million to the State for excess public spending on medicines in 2018 and 2019 (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20220411/farmaindustria-abona-millones-exceso-gasto-publico- medications/663433943_0.html)

o The HIPRA vaccine will arrive between May and June, according to Minister Morant (https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20220411/vacuna-espanola-hipra-covid-llegara-ministra-morant/664183699_0.html)

o Boehringer Ingelheim reinforces its commitment to Spain with an investment in R&D of 42 million in 2021, 23% more than in the previous period (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/boehringer-ingelheim-refuerza-su -bet-on-spain-with-an-investment-of-42-million-in-2021.html)

o Lácer launches its sale process for more than 500 million euros (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/04/08/companias/1649439648_227115.html)

o Insparya, the hair business that Cristiano Ronaldo is in, will take its clinics to Milan, Paris and Dubai and will continue to open in Spain (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/04/08/companias/1649440871_986204. html)

 

 

7 days in healthcare (March 14-20, 2022)

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SUMMARY

From the point of view of biomedicine, to highlight the new treatment for malaria in children; the new variant “Delatacron”, similar to the “ómicron”; and, the possibilities of artificial intelligence to accelerate the appearance of new medicines. We would like to underline the studies promoted by Valentín Fuster on ultrasound of the neck and groin arteries and their possibilities of detecting the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke to be promising, although it is a topic that has been talked about for a long time without much results.

Regarding Global Health, an interesting editorial in the British Medical Journal, entitled climate change, pandemic and war: an uncontrolled multi-crisis, since it seems that in this decade of the 21st century all the problems have accumulated; the verification that the low level of vaccinations in Africa is not so much due to the low level of vaccines, but rather due to the difficulties of reaching the population; interesting report on Nigeria and the problems of its health system.

In terms of international health policy, the problems of Asia’s “covid zero” strategy are noteworthy, which gave so much political return to the Chinese regime, presenting its low mortality successes and comparing them with the high mortality rates of other countries in the world ( United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, India, etc.). It seems that the “ómicron” variant, due to its contagiousness, is not easily approachable with the “covid zero” strategy, since that would lead to massive confinements in China. Resurgence of covid cases in Europe and Asia, which coincides with a relaxation of control measures.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), it should be noted that the incidence of covid is growing, while the measures are relaxed, although there is concern in the Ministry of Health about a possible new wave of covid at the gates of Easter. Very important COFARES report on the pharmacy sector, proposing many innovative measures, which contrasts with the usual narcissism and laudatory speeches about the “Mediterranean model of pharmacy”, so liked by some professional representatives. Primary Care is trying to get back to normal, although with a thousand fewer doctors than before the pandemic. The birth rate in Spain is at historic lows, which is a serious problem. The Council of Dentists, in reporting that 34 million Spaniards have cavities, presents us with the reality of poor dental care in our country. A revolution in the use of biosimilars is coming, given the large number of biological medicines that will lose their patent in the coming years.

In the field of companies, it should be noted that Pfizer and BioNTech have requested authorization in the United States for a second “booster” for older Americans. Grifols bets on a vaccine against Alzheimer’s. HIPRA, the veterinary pharmacy company until now, hopes to start marketing its vaccine against covid in June.

BIOMEDICINE

GLOBAL HEALTH

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

  • COVID

o The “ómicron” variant is changing China’s “zero covid” strategy, at the moment more than 40 million Chinese are suffering some type of confinement, which is tolerated by the remaining 1.4 billion who lead normal lives. The legitimacy of the party is given by the low mortality. We’ll see if that can be sustained with the “omicron” (https://www.economist.com/china/2022/03/19/omicron-is-changing-chinas-covid-strategy)

o China reports the first deaths from covid in more than a year (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/18/world/covid-19-mandates-cases-vaccine)

o Shanghai, possible confinement, after the discovery of 150 new cases of covid (https://www.ft.com/content/659a5337-681b-4ef2-a9ac-db9aaaa78cef)

o Concern that new lockdowns in China may disrupt supply chains (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/will-chinas-covid-lockdowns-add-to-strains-on-supply- chains/21808193)

o Resurgence of covid cases in Europe and Asia, infections have risen 8% worldwide, but they are skyrocketing in Vietnam and Germany (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/20220317/z4bkdrxn2vddtcbvhi5equn45e.html)

  • Other issues

o According to an American study (Health Affairs), hospitals differ in their services depending on whether they are for-profit, non-profit or government-owned, with the former tending to offer more profitable services and discontinue the others (https://www.healthaffairs. org/doi/epdf/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01115)

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o Latest report: the incidence of covid rise and 287 deaths, in Friday’s report (since Tuesday) (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/especial-coronavirus/covid-19-espana-registra-64597 -cases-287-deaths-ia-upload-44580-points_111800_102.html)

o The new plan against covid will put an end to the isolation of positives (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220319/8136758/nuevo-plan-covid-pondra-aislamientos-positivos.html)

o The Ministry of Health fears the arrival of a new wave of covid at the gates of Holy Week (https://www.elespanol.com/espana/20220314/sanidad-llegada-septima-covid-puertas-semana-santa/656934435_0 .html)

o Paxlovid, the anticovid treatment promised by Sánchez, has not yet reached patients (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2022/03/17/623244e021efa054348b458d.html)

  • Other themes

o Spain was left out of the top 10 in public health spending in 2020, according to a report made public by Eurostat and spent an average of 600 euros less per inhabitant than the EU average (https://www.consalud.es/politica/espana- top-10-ue-public-expenditure-health-2020_111467_102.html). To access the Eurostat report: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/GOV_10A_EXP__custom_2243551/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=8df11907-86e8-4f5b-a62e-a7d09828e303)

o Important COFARES report: pharmacist skills in the 21st century, proposing digitization, home delivery, legal changes and the sustainability of the pharmacy model (https://www.consalud.es/profesionales/profesionales-analizan- evolution-pharmacy-role-pharmacist_111660_102.html)

o The Ministry of Health and the regions coordinate health care for refugees from Ukraine (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/03/18/sanidad-y-las-cc-aa-garantizan-la-atencion- health-for-refugees-from-ukraine)

o The Ministry of Health puts the average time to approve a drug at “9 months” (https://www.consalud.es/politica/ministerio-sanidad/sanidad-asegura-la-media-espana-aprobar-medicamento-9- months_111648_102.html)

o The flu enters Spain with force (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220317/8130742/gripe-fuerza-espana.html)

o Primary Care is trying to get back to normal, with a thousand fewer doctors than before the pandemic (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-03-20/la-atencion-primaria-intenta-volver-a-la- normality-with-a-thousand-less-doctors-than-before-the-pandemic.html)

o The birth rate in Spain, at lows not known in several centuries, according to a study by the San Pablo CEU University (https://www.eldebate.com/sociedad/20220315/pandemia-apenas-pasa-factura-natalidad-espana. html)

o A total of 34 million people in Spain have cavities, according to the General Council of Dentists (https://www.actasanitaria.com/politica-y-sociedad/total-34-millones-personas-en-espana-tienen- caries_2001822_102.html)

o The Ombudsman receives 2,300 health complaints in 2021, according to the report presented (https://www.defensordelpueblo.es/informe-anual/informe-anual-2021/)

o La Paz, on October 12 and Gregorio Marañón among the 100 best hospitals in the world, according to the classification prepared by Newsweek magazine (https://www.elmundo.es/madrid/2022/03/14/622e4da7e4d4d894118b45c8.html )

o Incorporating 6,000 doctors in primary care would cost 358 million euros, according to the Collegiate Medical Organization (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2022/03/14/622df5e7fc6c83c80d8b4583.html)

o Mariano Esteban’s covid vaccine will not continue the clinical phase in Spain (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/enfermedades-infecciosas/empresas/la-vacuna-de-la-covid-de-mariano-esteban -csic-will-not-continue-the-clinical-phase-in-spain.html)

o Spain needs a plan for the second revolution in biosimilars, since one hundred biological drug patents expire between 2024 and 2029 (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/03/16/companias/1647452966_841014.html)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR

  • International News

o Moderna supplies 70 million additional doses of its vaccine to Japan (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/moderna-suministra-70-millones-de-dosis-addicionales-de-su-vacuna-anti-covid- 19-a-japan.html)

o Pfizer and BioNTech request authorization for a second “booster” for older Americans (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/us/politics/pfizer-second-booster-shot-older-americans.html )

o AstraZeneca, prepared not to continue with the efforts to obtain authorization in the USA for the covid vaccine (https://www.ft.com/content/e1edb2b2-0e12-4c83-9257-eeeb2ba29267)

  • National News

o Grifols bets on the Alzheimer’s vaccine and ends phase II of clinical trials (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/grifols-apuesta-por-la-vacuna-contra-el-alzheimer-finaliza-la- phase-ii-trials-of-abvac40.html)

o The Danish A.P. Moller Holding completes the purchase of Unilabs (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/la-danesa-ap-moller-holding-completa-la-compra-de-unilabs.html)

o The founders of Rovi sell 5% after the success of the Moderna vaccine (https://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-fundadores-laboratorios-rovi-venden-capital-empresa-1808-millones-20220315082314.html )

o Hipra hopes to market its covid vaccine in June (https://www.businessinsider.es/vacuna-hipra-covid-comercializar-junio-primera-espanola-1029741)

 

 

7 days in healthcare (March 7-13, 2022)

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SUMMARY

From the point of view of Biomedicine, the Lancet report on risk factors in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), one of the great burdens of all health systems, should be highlighted. Also the finding that COVID can cause brain damage, although its scope is yet to be determined.

As for Global Health, it is worth noting the WHO complaint that 16 health facilities have been attacked in the war in Ukraine, as well as the organization’s statement that women should have access to safe abortions, to avoid mortality as well as hospitalizations due to complications.

When it comes to international health policy, the advice for the next pandemic contained in a major editorial in the Financial Times is important. There would be three priorities: 1. Reduce the risk of the appearance of a new pathogen (controlling the markets where animals are sold, for example); 2. Prevent it from spreading throughout the world; and 3. Develop an effective weaponry with vaccines and treatments as soon as possible. The incidence of COVID is increasing in England and France, just as the outbreak in China is the largest since the initial one in Wuhan. A report by The Lancet analyzes the mortality from COVID by country and even (as in the case of Spain) by region in the different countries. Spain is among the nations with the highest mortality from COVID per number of inhabitants. In the United Kingdom, a conservative think tank, with the support of the British Secretary of Health, proposes that primary care physicians become primarily salaried, thus breaking one of the fundamental elements of the political pact that gave rise to the NHS (on the one hand, hospitals are nationalized, but, on the other, the consideration of primary care physicians as independent mini-entrepreneurs is respected).

In national health policy, it is found that the drop in the incidence of COVID stagnates in Spain. Private healthcare, through the IDIS Foundation, considers the interoperability of the clinical history of private healthcare patients, regardless of insurer or provider.

Of the activity of the companies, an analysis of the Financial Times comments on how the economy of the pharmaceutical companies works against the development of antibiotics. Europe has lost the race against the United States in the development of new drugs. Important publication of the Roche Institute of a manual on personalized medicine aimed at health professionals.

BIOMEDICINE

GLOBAL HEALTH

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

  • COVID

o Lessons for the next pandemic, after two years of covid, an important Financial Times editorial. Three priorities: 1. Reduce the risk of emergence of a new pathogen; 2. Prevent it from spreading throughout the world; and 3. Develop an effective weaponry with vaccines and treatments as soon as possible (https://www.ft.com/content/c9640c9c-5a65-49fa-a8b2-c22cc1ffe508)

o The COVID pandemic has lasted two years. Next steps may be divisive (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/us/covid-pandemic-vaccines-mandates.html)

o The covid does not decrease, but increases, in France (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2022/03/11/covid-19-olivier-veran-alerte-au-sujet-d-un -rebond-de-l-epidemie_6117120_3244.html)

o Covid cases and hospitalizations on the rise in England (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/11/covid-cases-england-omicron-levels-ons-data)

o China, fighting the largest outbreak since Wuhan (https://www.ft.com/content/1e7dab0d-3247-4cb7-8370-e1697d70d693)

o Chinese scientists, in search of an alternative to the “zero COVID” policy, which the Chinese government boasts so much about (https://www.economist.com/china/2022/03/10/chinas-scientists-are-looking-for-a-way-out-of-the-zero-covid-policy)

o Where did the 5 “Trillion” (American) dollars of Covid stimulus go(https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/11/us/how-covid-stimulus-money-was-spent.html)

o Mortality from COVID, three times higher than official figures (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/global-covid-19-death-toll-may-be-three-times-higher-than-official-figures), according to a major report by The Lancet (http://www.thelancet-press.com/embargo/COVIDexcessmortality.pdf)

o Austria suspends the first universal vaccination obligation (https://www.ft.com/content/65650cbe-10b0-4350-8eb5-691624be8c2d)

  • Other topics

o The pandemic has accelerated the demand for private healthcare services in the UK (https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o566)

o The NHS app should be the new ‘gateway’ to the NHS, says UK health secretary (https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o621)

o British primary care physicians should be primarily salaried (https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o594), says a report by a conservative think tank (https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/at-your-service/)

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o The drop in infections stagnates in Spain, with the incidence still at high risk, with 430.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, far from 50 (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-03-12/la-caida-de-contagios-de-covid-se-estanca-en-espana-con-la-incidencia-aun-en-riesgo-alto.html)

o Sánchez announces that the mandatory indoor mask will soon be abolished (https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20220306/sanchez-anuncia-pronto-se-supulsara-mascarilla-obligatoria-interiores/2303441.shtml)

o Spain destroys more than a million vaccines against covid, most of them from Janssen and AstraZeneca (https://www.elespanol.com/espana/politica/20220306/espana-destruye-vacunas-covid-19-mayoria-janssen-astrazeneca/654184713_0.html)

  • Political announcements

o Congress backs the proposal of the political party Ciudadanos for a law on ALS (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/20220308/pvwdajf2yrgljceanzw4qgsr6a.html)

  • Other themes

o The Valencian health system carries out almost 600 sex change interventions in five years (https://www.eldiario.es/comunitat-valenciana/sanidad-valenciana-realiza-600-intervenciones-quirurgicas-cambio-sexo-cinco-anos_1_8822169.html)

o 9,932 candidates will be able to choose a MIR position (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/medico-joven/mir/9932-candidatos-podran-elegir-plaza-mir.html)

o The IDIS calls for more accessibility in Oncology (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/privada/el-idis-pide-un-modelo-de-organizacion-en-oncologia-accesible-y-equitativo-7382)

o Change in the General Directorate of Farmaindustria (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/03/09/companias/1646826907_604545.html)

o The Royal National Academy of Medicine joins the European Academies of Medicine with a declaration on Ukraine (https://www.ranm.es/noticias/4799-declaracion-de-la-ranme-sobre-la-situacion-en-ucrania.html)

o Private healthcare invests 1.3 million euros to give private healthcare patients access to digital medical records in 2023 (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20220310/sanidad-privada-invierte-millones-pacientes-historia-clinica/656184536_0.html)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR

  • International News

o The Sacklers will pay $6 billion for Purdue’s opiate lawsuits (https://www.consalud.es/ecsalud/internacional/sacklers-pagaran-6000-millones-demandas-opiaceos-purdue_111017_102.html)

o Kirin goes beyond beer and goes into healthcare (https://www.ft.com/content/1d99a0be-6e76-4327-8516-da549a5f767e)

o How Pharmaceutical Economics Holds Back Antibiotic Development (https://www.ft.com/content/29292a3c-321d-4187-9ff0-59d70eb796f4)

o Europe loses the battle against the USA and only develops 22% of new medicines (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/03/07/companias/1646677340_160102.html)

o Sanofi acknowledges that they were late for the covid vaccine (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2022/03/13/6229d430fc6c832c328b4584.html)

  • National News

o Korian: 60 new beds and more purchases to bill one hundred million euros in Spain (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/korian-60-nuevas-camas-y-mas-compras-para-facturar-cien-millones-de-euros-en-espana.html)

o Europe asks HIPRA to expand its clinical trial of the covid vaccine (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/03/07/companias/1646677340_160102.html)

o The Roche Institute publishes a personalized medicine manual for healthcare professionals (https://www.institutoroche.es/recursos/publicaciones/201/Propuesta_de_competencias_en_Medicina_Personalizada_de_Precision_de_los_profesionales_sanitarios)

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (February 21-27, 2022)

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SUMMARY

From the point of view of biomedicine, Bill Gates predicts another pandemic, although he estimates that he will catch us better prepared. Also to highlight the questioning of the traditional form of clinical trials. The latter is important, since Spain has become a power in clinical trials and it is important to analyze whether it is the right bet.

In terms of global health, it should be noted that COVAX has distributed exactly half of the COVID vaccines that it had as its objective. A great inequity in the distribution of vaccines in the world and, now, also of medicines against COVID.

As for international health policy, great controversy in the United Kingdom due to the lifting of all restrictions against COVID.

In national health policy (Spain), the incidence of COVID is low, although we continue with high mortality and without antivirals. The Ministry of Health takes the expansion of the service portfolio to a public hearing. Medical uneasiness before the reform of the Abortion Law, a BIOSIM proposal to promote the use of biosimilars and controversy over the financing of orphan drugs.

With regard to companies, it should be noted that the manufacture of Ventolín and Nolotil pollutes more than the automotive industry, which indicates how far the pharmaceutical industry has to go in implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Also that Quirónsalud has exceeded the turnover of 4,000 million and Fresenius is open to incorporating new shareholders both in Quirónsalud and Eugin.

BIOMEDICINE

GLOBAL HEALTH

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o The incidence of COVID continues to drop to 613 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-02-24/ultima-hora-del-coronavirus-hoy-en-espana-y-el-mundo-en-directo.html)

o 245 deaths in the sixth wave and still without antivirals (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/20220225/3eq7hmpczjfe3ct7ruk3tz56wi.html)

o The subvariant of the stealthy “ómicron” accelerates its expansion in Spain (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/20220224/3zfep56h6bf7jktf4fqvbnj3yq.html)

  • Political announcements

o The Ministry of Health takes out the draft order for the expansion of the service portfolio for a public hearing. Opinions in this regard can be sent via email informacion.publica@mscbs.es until March 10 (https://www.consalud.es/politica/sanidad-saca-audiencia-publica-orden-ministerial-actualiza-cartera-comun-sns_110420_102.html)

o AIReF announces a study on MUFACE spending in its plan for 2022 (https://www.airef.es/es/noticias/la-airef-publica-su-plan-de-actuaciones-2022-con-una-apuesta-clara-por-la-sostenibilidad-y-la-evaluacion/)

  • Other issues

o The medical groups, against the reform of the abortion law, propose the obligatory nature of performing it in public hospitals (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/20220225/onwymfclwbbyfiamuan5il533e.html)

o Biosim presents 14 proposals to stimulate the use of biosimilars (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/02/24/biosim-plantea-14-propuestas-para-fomentar-el-uso-de-los-biosimilares )

o Great controversy over the financing of orphan drugs, while the Ministry publishes a report with improvements in financing since 2016 (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/02/23/sanidad-publica-un-analisis-sobre-la-financiacion-acceso-y-gasto-de-los-medicamentos-huerfanos-desde-2016) others insist that more than 50% of these medicines are not publicly funded (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/industria/el-50-de-los-medicamentos-huerfanos-estan-sin-financiar-en-espana-7267)

o The strategic health reserve today has 466 million masks and 955 respirators (https://www.elindependiente.com/espana/2022/02/27/la-reserva-estrategica-de-sanidad-cuenta-hoy-con-466-millones-de-mascarillas-y-955-respiradores/)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR