Posts

7 days in healthcare (September 5th-11th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, to highlight the work that shows an association between artificial sweeteners and increased cardiovascular risk. Also that air pollution causes lung cancer.

As far as Global Health is concerned, apart from the serious humanitarian crises in Pakistan and Somalia, the most promising is the new malaria vaccine, which could be operational as early as 2023.

Regarding international health policy, assisted suicide and euthanasia are news in Canada (where the rate of euthanasia is very high and there is concern) and in France (which is considering passing a law). Macron has launched a major national debate on this issue, following a report to appear next week from the Ethics Committee. This great debate on such a delicate subject was missed in Spain. Certain issues should not be subject only to conjunctural parliamentary majorities, but should be preceded by a great national debate. It is also worth mentioning that Chile rejected the draft Constitution in a referendum. According to an article published in El País, doubts about the possibility of choosing the health system (the continuity of the ISAPRES, as health insurers are called in Chile), is one of the causes of this rejection.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), it should be noted that Aragón proposes a great debate on the efficiency of the National Health System, a brave and valuable initiative. It will first analyze the Aragonese health system, and then share that analysis with the rest of the autonomies. Also that the Ministry of Health promises to change the law to favor the local manufacture of medicines. It is also worth underlining the pronouncement of the Catalan Evaluation Agency, on the need for a state policy for the digital transformation of the health system and the promotion of telemedicine.

In the field of companies, from the international point of view, to mention the purchase of Signify a home care group by CVS (an American pharmaceutical chain), in a process in which Amazon also showed interest. In terms of news at the national level, to highlight the great investment of Novartis in our country.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

7 days in healthcare (August 21st-28th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, the very encouraging results of the polypill published by a Spanish group led by Valentin Fuster should be highlighted. The Economist underlines the great future of gene therapies in medicine, with a list of diseases for which there is a therapy or is in advanced study.

Regarding Global Health, The Lancet publishes a report with some conclusions and lessons regarding future pandemics.

As for International Health Policy, both monkeypox and covid are plummeting in Europe. The controversial annulment of the Roe v Wade ruling in the United States, which leaves the right to abortion to the criteria and regulation of the states, continues to be talked about. American companies, including Walmart, the largest American employer, introduce this benefit for women, regardless of the state where they work.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), covid continues to drop and especially the number of cases in the ICU. The Government approves the bill that creates the Public Health Agency, probably the largest, if not the only, far-reaching measure after the pandemic. The text of the law is not yet public, and therefore important aspects such as governance and functions are not known. The location is not known either, although the Government has advanced that it would not be in Madrid, which is not without controversy either. Next week the government will approve the abortion law, according to a text promoted by Podemos.

In the field of companies, Moderna’s lawsuit against Pfizer and BioNTech has been shocked, which it accuses of plagiarism of its mRNA technology in the covid vaccine. Amazon closes its telecare service, which once again demonstrates the difficulties of the large technology platforms in finding an adequate strategy for health, a sector in which they want to be above all else. In Spain, the export of drugs manufactured in Spain grows by 60% in one year.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (August 8th-14th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, there seems to be a glimpse of a new drug to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS, for which there are problems in obtaining an affordable price. Animal testing is the basis for certain advances in medicine. This can be overcome with certain new discoveries, according to the company Lift Sciences.

Regarding Global Health, two key issues: a new zoonosis (“Langya”) appears in China, as published in the NEJM. In certain developed countries it seems that polio, which was considered eradicated, is making a comeback.

Regarding international health policy, the approval of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 in the United States, about Climate, Fiscal and Health will have a very important impact. Aside from expanding access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), surely the most far-reaching impact will be on the pharmaceutical industry. Gradually, Medicare will be able to negotiate the price of medicines with the pharmaceutical industry, something that until now it could not do. This radically changes the business model of the pharmaceutical industry, which was based on two things: the protection of intellectual property through patents; and the existence of free prices with high margins in the United States (the largest pharmaceutical market) and regulated prices and lower margins in the rest of the world. A substantial change that will most likely have a global impact. It may also curb the escalation of health care spending in the United States. We’ll see if this doesn’t upset the fast pace of drug innovation.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the good news is that, as in all of Europe, covid continues to decrease in incidence, although it is still a worrying disease, due to the number of hospitalized cases and mortality.

In the field of companies, trials for new covid variants begin by BioNTech and Pfizer. More than 2,300 Spanish pharmacies can now sell through the Glovo platform and soon Uber, although only parapharmacy products, not prescription drugs.

Biomedicine

Global health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (June 20th-26th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, to highlight the article in The Lancet that shows that the covid vaccine has saved 20 million lives in the first year of its use.

As far as Global Health is concerned, it is confirmed that covid 19 may be wreaking havoc in North Korea.

Regarding international health policy, it should be noted that the WHO has decided not to declare monkeypox an international health emergency. Strong rise in the incidence of COVID throughout Europe. Controversial annulment in the United States of the Roe v Wade ruling that declared abortion a constitutional right. Now abortion will have to be regulated by the States. Serious public health problems are expected, as in the pre-Roe v Wade era, although mitigated by the widespread use of the abortion pill, which can even be purchased online. For the first time in the history of the United States, an agreement is reached to limit, albeit in a very limited way, the use of weapons, with President Biden having signed a law in this regard. Instead, the Constitutional Court declared illegal any limitation on the display of weapons in public, as some States had legislated. More Americans are dying from drug overdoses than ever before. The European Medicines Agency approves the Valneva covid vaccine, the sixth covid vaccine approved in Europe (after Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, J&J and Novavax).

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), we are witnessing a growth in the incidence of covid, some speak of a seventh wave. Published in the Official Bulletin of the Congress of Deputies the project of equity law. Important statement from the Consorci Sanitari de Catalunya saying that more than the management model, we must focus on quality and results. The National Market and Competition Commission (CNMC) publishes a report on wholesale pharmaceutical distribution, which is considered a boost to the use of generics and biosimilars.

In the field of companies, it should be noted that Alphabet (Google’s parent company) is making a strong investment to become a powerhouse in health. Its fields of action will be: wearables, clinical records, artificial intelligence applied to health and extension of human longevity. The medical marijuana business is making its way.

Biomedicine

Global health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

7 days in healthcare (May 16th-22nd, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, there seems to be new evidence of the relationship between acute childhood hepatitis and COVID. Interesting articles on how COVID can affect the brain, generating a kind of “dementia epidemic” and what long covid is and how to treat it.

Regarding Global Health, possible alarming effects of a global food crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine and its consequences. Report on serious deficiencies of “assisted technologies” (basically, wheelchairs, glasses and hearing aids) in a large part of the world’s population. The shortage of covid vaccine production in African countries continues to be denounced.

As for international health policy, an article in The Economist takes the drama out of “monkey pox”, saying that it is nothing comparable to what covid represented. Catastrophe due to covid in North Korea, a country that did not take advantage of its total closure during the pandemic to favor the immunization of its population and the reinforcement of its health system. Also, very reluctant to accept foreign aid. Isolated dictatorship things. Interesting experiment in New Zealand on a generation without tobacco.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the Ministry of Health has issued a protocol on monkeypox, about which there are some interesting statements by López Acuña, who also takes the drama out of this epidemic. Approved in the Council of Ministers the new abortion law, destined, probably, not to solve anything and to generate artificial problems. The SEMFYC (association of primary care doctors) warns about the need for 10,000 primary care doctors, to cover the generational change.

In the field of companies, the initiative of the Government of Catalonia to create a commission to study the new location of the Hospital Clínic should be highlighted. Surely an avant-garde and innovative hospital does not fit well in the current old building. A true revolution in the hospital and urban world of Barcelona. The AESEG warns about the low price of certain basic medicines, which discourages their production.

Biomedicine

Global health

International health policy

  • Monkeypox

o Monkeypox spreads to several countries: after originating from a traveler from Nigeria, the disease has spread to the United States, Australia, Canada and 8 European countries. According to The Economist, there is nothing to worry about and it has nothing to do with the covid pandemic, which took the world unprepared, without vaccines or treatments (https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022 /05/20/monkeypox-is-popping-up-in-more-countries-how-worrying-is-this)

o What is Monkeypox, article in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/article/what-is-monkeypox.html)

o We will see more cases of monkeypox, warns a British scientist (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/21/we-will-see-more-cases-of-monkeypox-warn-british- scientists)

  • COVID-19

o Taiwan gradually renounces the “zero-covid” policy, assuming that the number of cases will increase (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2022/05/16/taiwan-renonce-peu -a-peu-a-politique-zero-covid_6126267_3244.html)

o Catastrophe in North Korea. The country was closed during the pandemic, but it was not used to immunize the population or strengthen the health system (https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/05/17/covid-19-is-spreading-like -wildfire-in-north-korea)

o Shanghai is going to open its commerce in stages (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2022/05/15/covid-19-shanghai-va-rouvrir-ses-commerces-par-etapes-apres- deux-mois-de-confinement_6126204_3244.html)

o How Australia saved thousands of lives from covid, in contrast to what happened in the United States (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/world/australia/covid-deaths.html)

  • Other themes

o The policy on the possible annulment of the Roe v Wade judgment in the United States continues, important editorial in Science (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adc9968)

o A generation without tobacco in New Zealand, prohibited for all those born since January 1, 2009. Malaysia and Denmark are also considering similar measures (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140- 6736(22)00925-4/fulltext)

o The United States, Switzerland and Norway lead the world in spending on health per capita (https://www.plantadoce.com/entorno/estados-unidos-suiza-y-noruega-lideran-el-gasto-per-inhabitante- in-medical-care.html)

o The NHS needs access to medical data to save lives, interesting article in the Financial Times (https://www.ft.com/content/dc01b30f-472d-4da6-b694-28486383aeff)

o A report commissioned by the Minister for Health proposes that the legal smoking age in the UK be 21 (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/may/21/legal-smoking-age -in-england-could-be-raised-to-21-report)

National health policy

  • Monkeypox

o Protocol of the Ministry of Health against monkeypox (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/protocolo-contra-viruela-mono-aislamiento-cuarentena-solo-confirmados-sopechosos_115004_102.html)

o Interesting statements by López Acuña: there is no reason for social alarm over monkeypox (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2022/05/22/62890984e4d4d80e098b4591.html)

o Spain will buy thousands of vaccines for the monkeypox disease (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-05-19/espana-prepara-la-compra-de-miles-de-vacunas-frente-a -the-traditional-smallpox-to-deal-with-the-monkey-virus-outbreak.html)

  • COVID

o The cumulative incidence, on the rise: 848 points (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/especial-coronavirus/covid-19-espana-notifica-58839-nuevos-casos-305-muertes-ia-sube-848 -points_114982_102.html)

  • Regulatory announcements

o The new abortion law approved by the Council of Ministers (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/ginecologia/politica/montero-las-mujeres-podran-abortar-en-el-hospital-publico-mas-cercano- your-address.html)

  • Other themes

o Spain, leader in the consumption of benzodiazepines for anxiety and insomnia (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2022/05/15/627e8bf0fdddffa9638b458b.html)

o The National Health System (SNS) would need 10,000 family doctors for generational turnover, according to a study by the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (SEMFYC) (https://www.plantadoce.com/entorno/el-sns-necesita-10000-medicos -of-family-more-to-guarantee-the-generational-handover.html)

o The strike of specialist doctors in Madrid, suspended after an agreement (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/profesion/madrid-medicos-desconvocan-la-huelga-con-la-promesa-de-2500-plazas- contest.html)

o Spain, last in mental health, there are only 2,800 psychologists in public health, only 344 in Primary Care (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20220522/espana-mental-invierte-europa -psychologists-public-health/672183163_0.html)

o Private healthcare works on a code of good practice: joint initiative of ATA (Association of Self-Employed) and ASPE (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/privada/la-sanidad-privada-espanola-trabajo-en- your-own-code-of-good-practices-4162)

Companies

  • International News

o Big Pharma pressures the G20 to prepare for the next pandemic (https://www.ft.com/content/ca71ee0e-9b4b-4c2e-b60b-bbd841415697)

o Monkeypox shoots up the stock of the only company that manufactures them: Bavarian Nordic (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/05/20/companias/1653035794_646119.html)

  • National News

o Dependency insurance grows 71.4% and closes the first quarter with 132,000 users (https://www.plantadoce.com/entorno/el-seguro-de-dependencia-crece-un-714-y-cierra- the-first-quarter-with-132000-users.html)

o Catalonia constitutes the commission that will decide the location of the new Clinic Hospital (https://www.plantadoce.com/publico/cataluna-constitución-la-comision-que-decidira-el-emplazamiento-del-nuevo-hospital-clinic. html)

o Colgate-Palmolive breaks into the bid for Lácer (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/05/19/companias/1652978299_749683.html)

o AESEG asks to raise the price of essential medicines to produce them (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/11768114/05/22/El-generico-pide-subir-el-precio-de-los-farmacos -essential-to-produce-them.html)

 

 

7 days in healthcare (May 9th-15th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, the important study published by the journal Science should be highlighted, outlining the most detailed atlas of human cells to date. The discussion about the origin of acute childhood hepatitis continues.

As far as Global Health is concerned, it is found that the United States has reached one million deaths from COVID and Europe two million. A sad milestone.

Regarding international health policy, in relation to COVID, the debate continues on the sustainability of the zero-COVID policy in China. Lockdowns in North Korea, possibly the most opaque country in the world. The debate continues in the United States on the modification of the Roe v Wade sentence. Pronouncements from scientific journals (Nature, The Lancet), as well as from the President of the American Medical Association. The ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control) stops recommending the use of masks on public transport in Europe.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the accumulated incidence of COVID continues to grow. Great debate regarding the announced new Abortion Law. It is more than doubtful that the Law will be approved and, if it is, that it will be complied with, given the large number of controversial elements (registration of conscientious objectors, the obligation that these interventions be carried out in public hospitals, the use of terminology of obstetric violence, etc.). The Ministry of Industry takes out the first tender of the cutting-edge health PERTE. Important editorial in El País on waiting lists, which it presents as a scourge of the SNS.

In the field of companies, the WHO denounces attempts to whiten tobacco companies, by way of presenting themselves as green companies.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

  • COVID-19

o The Director of the WHO affirms that the zero-covid policy in China is not sustainable (https://www.ft.com/content/9b81b9f0-e13d-4b0a-8bdf-91c97c7d61e7)

o A study says that lifting the “zero COVID” policy in China could mean 1.5 million deaths (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/11/lifting-zero-covid-policies-in -china-could-risk-16m-deaths-says-study)

o China considers the WHO statement on its zero COVID policy “irresponsible” (https://www.ft.com/content/2e20867b-5f1d-4307-93b0-1d9b07d65e34)

o China renounces organizing the 2023 Asian Soccer Cup, due to the pandemic (https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2022/05/14/la-chine-renonce-a-organiser-la- coupe-d-asie-2023-de-football-in-raison-de-la-pandemie-de-covid-19_6126096_3210.html)

o Confinement in North Korea, as the first cases of COVID are confirmed (https://www.ft.com/content/41dec58c-3860-4ae3-86c4-716ffe85dbdd)

o Alert in the state of New York, due to the increase in cases (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/13/world/covid-19-mandates-vaccine-cases)

  • The debate on abortion continues in the United States

o The pronouncement of medical and scientific journals continues against the annulment of the Roe v Wade ruling in the United States, for reasons of public health and worsening of the health of women and children, particularly those with fewer resources. Editorials in Nature (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01249-2) and The Lancet (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22) 00870-4/fulltext), among others.

o Gerald E. Harmon, President of the AMA, the representation of American doctors, was “deeply concerned” about the impact on reproductive health in the United States of this possible modification (https://www.ama-assn.org/ delivering-care/population-care/why-leaked-abortion-opinion-antithetical-public-health)

o The New York Times assures that the annulment of same-sex marriage could be the next step (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/11/us/politics/roe-wade-supreme-court- abortion.html)

o Certain groups try to ban telemedicine prescription of pills that interrupt pregnancy (https://www.ft.com/content/6a3dd70e-8bb9-4727-af4a-4036a660db64)

  • Other themes

o The United States, willing to share vaccine technology with poor countries, says Biden (https://www.ft.com/content/ec6b5b3a-7cff-4aa9-8e68-cba3bbaae06f)

o The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), eliminate the recommendation to use masks in airports and during flights (https://www.larazon.es/ society/20220511/2dur4ogv7zemfkl5bbwmsitpme.html)

o Disposable electronic cigarettes are imposed among adolescents in France (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2022/05/08/les-cigarettes-electroniques-jetables-s-imposent-parmi-les-adolescents_6125199_3224 .html)

o France will stop requiring a mask on public transport starting next Monday, May 16 (https://www.expansion.com/economia/2022/05/12/627ccd8e468aeb71118b4611.html)

National health policy

  • COVID

o The accumulated incidence continues to rise, growing 13 points since the last measurement and standing at 856.65 cases in the last 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants. The ward occupancy rate is 5.80% and the ICU occupancy rate is 4.07% (https://www.consalud.es/pacientes/especial-coronavirus/covid-19-espana-suma-31036-casos- 321-deceased-ia-uploads-856-points_114645_102.html)

  • Regulatory announcements

o The Government willing to approve next Tuesday, May 17, a new abortion law at the initiative of the Ministry of Equality. The 14-week period for abortion to be considered legal is not modified. Most controversial points: 1. Without permission or information to parents from the age of 16; 2. No to surrogacy; 3. Registration of conscientious objectors; 4. Abortion in public hospitals; 5. Leave due to painful menstruation, outside the regulations of the common disease; 6. The terminology of obstetric violence is maintained (https://www.abc.es/sociedad/abci-no-reforma-sino-ley-aborto-ultima-gobierno-diez-claves-rapidas-202205111920_noticia.html)

o The need to strengthen public healthcare so that it can address the 74,000 abortions that are performed in the private sector (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-05-14/la-sanidad-publica-debera-reforzarse-para-asumir -the-74000-abortions-that-now-derives-to-the-private.html)

o The Constitutional Court is preparing a ruling in favor of the 2010 Abortion Law for June, after an appeal by the PP, parked for 12 years (https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2022-05-13/constitucional-junio -judgment-favorable-law-abortion_3423623/)

  • Other themes

o The Ministry of Industry is putting out to tender the Vanguard Health PERTE for the pharmaceutical and health products sector (https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2022/05/07/pdfs/BOE-B-2022-14280 .pdf)

o Important editorial in El País on waiting lists, which it presents as a major problem for the SNS (https://elpais.com/opinion/2022-05-10/largas-listas-de-espera.html)

o War of figures in the strike of medical specialists in Madrid (https://elpais.com/espana/madrid/2022-05-10/primer-dia-de-huelga-indefinida-de-medicos-en-madrid-basta -already-of-temporary.html)

o Castilla y León intends to lower the surgical delay in six months by 21 days (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/05/11/castilla-y-leon-objetivo-bajar-21-dias-la-demora -surgical-in-6-months)

o The national 024 telephone line for suicide prevention is launched (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/20220509/cubyq6iicncg3nfm6hieltpxvy.html)

o The SNS Interterritorial Council gives the green light to the Mental Health Plan (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/05/11/el-cisns-da-luz-verde-al-plan-de-salud-mental -con-practica-unanimidad), which is criticized by the President of the Spanish Society of Psychiatry, saying that “Mental Health needs professionals and intermediate centers, not apps” (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/psiquiatria /-mental-health-needs-professionals-and-intermediate-centers-no-apps–8807)

o The Ministry publishes the list of 462 strategic medicines, which includes 249 active ingredients (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/industria/estos-son-los-462-medicamentos-estrategicos-para-el-sns. html)

o Private doctors ask insurers to raise their fees, which according to them have been frozen for 32 years (https://theobjective.com/economia/2022-05-15/medicos-privados-honorarios/)

o Andalusia can have up to 8 Faculties of Medicine, after the steps in Jaén and Almería only Huelva remains (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/bisturi/-ocho-facultades-de-medicina-en-una-misma-region –3332), something (the proliferation of Medical Faculties) totally against the approaches of the CEEM (State Confederation of Medical Students) and the Conference of Deans

Companies, employers and other agents of the sector

  • International News

o The WHO asks countries to stop the tobacco companies that try to whitewash their image as a green industry (https://elpais.com/clima-y-medio-ambiente/2022-05-13/la-oms-pide- to-the-countries-that-stop-the-tobacco- companies-that-try-to-clean-up-their-image-as-a-green-industry.html)

o Pfizer will buy the biotech company Biohaven for 11.6 billion dollars (https://www.ft.com/content/ea9bb9bc-b5ec-4278-ab42-1f5f14a1a76f)

  • National News

o Vithas invests 3 million euros in the renovation of emergencies (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/vithas-madrid-la-milagrosa-invierte-tres-millones-de-euros-en-la-renovacion- of-your-emergencies.html)

o Vitaldent is committed to dental aesthetics by incorporating 73 Smysecret spaces into its clinics (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/vitaldent-apuesta-por-la-estetica-dental-e-incorpora-73-espacios-smysecret-a -your-clinics.html)

o Asisa buys a 600m2 center in Zaragoza (https://www.ondacero.es/programas/en-buenas-manos/asisa-compra-centro-medico-600-zaragoza_20220510627a3bbc64c3c90001106b03.html)

o Hospitales Parque grows in Talavera with a new building for outpatient consultations (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/hospitales-parque-crece-en-talavera-de-la-reina-con-un-nuevo-edificio- for-external-queries.html)

o Sanitas, SegurCaixa Adeslas and Línea Directa, the most profitable insurers (https://www.expansion.com/empresas/banca/2022/05/09/627567d7e5fdea58068b45f4.html)

o Novartis will manufacture an oncology drug for the whole world in Barcelona (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/11765483/05/22/Novartis-fabricara-en-Zaragoza-un-oncologico-para-todo-el -world-.html)

7 days in healthcare (May 2nd-8th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, two important editorials in The Economist should be highlighted on wearables (devices to wear, mainly smart watches) and medicalized apps, which could represent a new form of relationship between citizens and the health system and greater involvement of the population in maintaining their own health.

As far as Global Health is concerned, two books stand out, the one by Bill Gates on the pandemic, in which he says, in short, that outbreaks are not avoidable, but pandemics are, and the one by Devi Sridhar on the pandemic in general, commented by The Lancet.

As for international health policy, much of the debate in the international press is centered around the controversy over abortion in the United States, which is dividing American society. Much of the international media speaks out against the reversal of the Roe v Wade ruling, which established abortion as a constitutionally based right in the United States (The Economist, New York Times, Financial Times, Le Monde), although some they do it for (Wall Street Journal). Especially harsh is the article in the New England Journal Medicine, which says that the reversal of this sentence would mean a return to 1973, where women with resources could access an abortion by changing state or country, while the poor had to assume a pregnancy not desired or undergo interventions without guarantee, with high mortality and complications.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), we must highlight the important editorial in El País on cancer drugs, which try to be introduced despite their high price and poor results in terms of survival. It is also necessary to highlight the “Update of the Stability Program 2022-2025“, where the government puts black on white that it will not fulfill its programmatic promise of reaching 7% of GDP in health in 2023.

In the field of companies, from the international point of view, it is worth noting the dismissal of the head of Biogen, after the controversial introduction of a drug against Alzheimer’s, whose approval by the FDA had already produced a cataclysm in this organism, with deep internal divisions. In the national environment, the important Pfizer document on gene therapies should be highlighted, as well as Quirónsalud’s proposal for a new hospital in Gijón, which could renew the private hospital scene in that region.

Biomedicine

Global health

International health policy

  • COVID-19

o In China, the covid-zero policy accentuates the slowdown in the economy (https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2022/05/06/en-chine-la-politique-zero-covid-accentue -le-slow-down-de-l-economie_6125001_3234.html)

o Deaths from covid worldwide are at their lowest since the start of the pandemic (https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20220507/muertes-covid-mundo-situan-minimos-inicio-pandemia/ 670433394_0.html)

  • The great debate on abortion in the United States

o The leak of an exploratory vote in the United States Supreme Court on the abolition of the Roe v Wade judgment (which declared abortion legal throughout the United States), unleashed a great controversy. If Roe v Wade is amended, abortion rights would become an issue for the states, not for the United States as a whole. There would be states in which abortion would be legal, while others would not (https://www.nytimes.com/article/abortion-laws-us.html)

o The most important international media editorialize and publish articles on the subject, such as The Economist (https://www.economist.com/united-states/how-the-end-of-roe-v-wade-will- affect-american-politics/21809130), The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/06/opinion/roe-v-wade-constitution.html), Financial Times (https:// www.ft.com/content/92042f8d-7954-4ffa-a0f5-b0fae12f7da3), Le Monde (https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2022/05/07/avortement-aux-etats-unis- un-retour-en-arriere-de-la-cour-supreme-serait-l-aboutissement-de-cinquante-ans-de-combat-de-la-droite-religieuse-contre-l-ivg_6125107_3210.html) and The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-end-of-roe-will-be-good-for-america-supreme-court-draft-leak-decision-abortion-pro-life-choice-justices-alito-11651787057), by cite just a few

o The medical press also speaks out: important article in the New England Journal Medicine, totally against the possible annulment of Roe v Wade (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2119364)

o The position on abortion in the United States: religion, not gender, is the greatest predictor of position (https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/05/07/religion-not-gender -is-the-best-predictor-of-views-on-abortion)

o The debate on abortion in the United States is unsettling in Canada (https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2022/05/05/le-retour-du-debat-sur-l-avortement-aux-etats -unis-restless-le-canada_6124913_3210.html)

o The American corporate world (Corporate America) is silent on the subject (https://www.ft.com/content/b1f32dd2-e01b-4b7f-880d-946d8b0db1ca)

  • Other themes

o The WHO warns that covid has accelerated the obesity pandemic. Proposes taxes on less healthy food and subsidizing fruits and vegetables (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2022-05-03/la-oms-alerta-de-que-el-impacto-del-coronavirus-ha-acelerado -another-epidemic-of-obesity.html)

National health policy

  • COVID

o Contagios in the elderly continue to rise and the deaths are about 70 a day (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220507/8249221/contagios-mayores-siguen-alza-muertes-continuan-70-diarias.html )

o Seventh wave or new phase of the pandemic? (https://www.epe.es/es/sanidad/20220506/septima-ola-covid-13618507)

  • Regulatory announcements

o List of essential drugs imminently (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/industria/la-inminente-lista-de-farmacos-de-sanidad-abre-una-nueva-via-de-rebaja-2143 )

o A reform of the Framework Statute is controversially proposed (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/bisturi/union-y-rebelion-sindical-ante-la-reforma-del-estatuto-marco-9760)

  • Other themes

o Important editorial in El País on cancer drugs, their high price and their sometimes minor effects on survival (https://elpais.com/opinion/2022-05-07/el-precio-de-la-salud. html)

o The “Update of the Stability Program 2022-2025“, presented by the Government to Brussels, does not foresee that the government’s promise to reach 7% of GDP in 2023 in public health spending will be fulfilled (https://www. hacienda.gob.es/CDI/Programas%20de%20Estabilidad/Programa-de-Estabilidad-2022-2025.pdf)

o The doctors maintain the strike for May 10, rejecting the Community of Madrid-ICOMEM agreement (https://elpais.com/espana/madrid/2022-05-07/la-encrucijada-final-de-los-medicos -de-madrid.html)

o Order of the Government of Catalonia on unit prices for compensation for hospital and specialized care (https://www.iberley.es/legislacion/orden-slt-88-2022-22-abril-determinan-ano-2022 -unit-prices-consideration-specialized-hospital-care-27084794)

Companies, employers and other agents of the sector

  • International News

o The head of Biogen dismissed due to the failure of the new drug against Alzheimer’s, after detecting that it has unproven benefits and serious health risks (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/business/biogen- aduhelm-michel-vounatsos.html)

  • National News

o Pfizer presents in Congress a Decalogue to promote gene therapy (https://www.pfizer.es/sites/default/files/2022-04/TERAPIA%20GENICA%20SNS%20interact%20v1.pdf)

o Quirón intends to build a new hospital in Gijón, with an investment of 40 million and 300 jobs (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/quironsalud-inviertera-40-millones-de-euros-en-nuevo-hospital -en-gijon.html)

o Teladoc Health is reinforced in Barcelona and will open a new digital hub in the city (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/teladoc-health-se-refuerza-en-barcelona-y-abrira-un-hub-digital -in-the-city.html)

o Vitaldent continues to grow and opens clinics in Pola de Siero, Lugo and Getafe (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/11748887/05/22/Vitaldent-abre-tres-nuevas-clinicas-en-Espana. html)

o Besins Healthcare, a company based in Mónica and specialized in novel therapies in gynecology, fertility and endocrinology, lands in Spain and invests 25 million in a plant in Muel (Zaragoza) (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/besins -healthcare-lands-in-spain-and-invests-25-million-in-a-plant-in-muel.html)