Posts

7 days in healthcare (June, 19th-25th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, ethical problems continue to be discussed as a consequence of the creation of embryos without eggs or sperm. Until now, an embryo required an egg and a sperm, but this new approach would allow, in hypothesis, to solve problems of infertility or pregnancy loss, but it is a matter to regulate very carefully. Two studies in Nature seem to show that the Y chromosome makes men more vulnerable to tumors.

With regard to Global Health, The Lancet focuses on the great threat of diabetes, since it is estimated that in 2050 there will be 1.3 billion diabetics, a disease related to obesity, diet, tobacco, alcohol and sedentary lifestyle. Inequalities in access to morphine are denounced, with the United States and Europe almost completely monopolizing its use. An important issue, since this drug has a relevant role in the treatment of pain and in palliative care.

Regarding International Health Policy, according to the weekly WHO report, covid is declining in both the number of cases and deaths in all WHO regions of the world. Only in the African region is there a slight increase in the number of deaths, with a decrease in the number of new cases. In the United States, the commercialization of meat grown in the laboratory is approved. One of the authorized establishments belongs to the Spanish philanthropist José Andrés. Also in the United States, not minor problems continue as a result of the annulment of the Roe v Wade ruling that transfers the authorization of abortion to the states. In the United Kingdom, the problems with the emergency services continue and a strike of resident doctors is called. New health insurance law in South Africa, which appears to represent progress towards universal coverage in that country.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), according to the WHO weekly bulletin, Spain is the country in Europe with the highest mortality from covid. The government and the communities agree to abolish the mandatory nature of masks in health centers and pharmacies. Ayuso, proclaimed President of the Community of Madrid, after the last elections. Absence of great news in the announcements of health measures for this legislature. As was already known, Spain is consolidating itself as a world power in clinical trials, an achievement no less.

In the field of Companies, internationally, Walmart (the largest supermarket chain in the USA) enters the primary care business, with 32 centers in 5 states. Walmart was already in healthcare, but it was with small clinics for minor care. Significant company purchases by Merck MSD and Lilly, which seems to confirm that M&A activity in pharmaceutical companies is reviving. In the Spanish national arena, ASEBIO announces an increase in investment in R&D by biotech companies in 2022.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (14th-20th November, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, the promising advances in the clinical trial of monoclonal antibodies against malaria are noteworthy. Although malaria has declined remarkably in the last 20 years, progress stopped in 2014. 6 African countries suffer 55% of global malaria cases. There is no doubt that the world would be much better without this disease.

As regards Global Health, the COP27 summit approves what was a general demand: the creation of a fund to help countries vulnerable to warming, although it does not agree to end fossil fuels. Faced with the opinion of the Director General of the WHO to hail the Qatar soccer championship as good for health, The Lancet is more skeptical, pointing out, among other things, that it had already shown in 2021 that the Olympic Games do not contribute to the generalization of the practice of physical exercise among the population.

Regarding International Health Policy, it seems that China is beginning to soften the covid-zero policy with regulations that are not as draconian as up to now. The American CDC initiates the changes, after the report that was made that demonstrated notable failures during the pandemic. The pharmaceutical industry warns in the United States and the United Kingdom that a change in price conditions in the first country and an increase in taxes in the second, could harm investments and, consequently, innovations in medicines.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the incidence of covid has risen in the last week, after two weeks of decline. With the announced change of the Minister of Health, Spain will have the sad record of having five Ministers of Health (Montón, Carcedo, Illa, Darias and the new one) in five years. Not surprisingly, the Ministry of Health has become a contingency management ministry, rather than the driver of transformative system change. If any of those ministers, which is quite doubtful, had had any transformation approach, he would not have had time to even raise it. It is not surprising that, in these circumstances, the Ministry of Health has not had the opportunity to rule on the conflict between Primary Care doctors, as if it did not affect it, when local circumstances aside, the working and professional conditions of healthcare personnel at Primary Care are a national problem. It confirms what was already known: that Spain is among the countries with the most doctors per 1,000 inhabitants in the world. Important and necessary organizational revolution at the Vall d’Hebrón hospital in Barcelona, ​​creating 32 areas of knowledge. The approach will be presented at the next meeting of the European University Hospitals Alliance (EUHA).

In the field of Companies, at the international level, obesity is seen as the expected Eldorado of Big Pharma. In Spain, Sanitas acquires a hospital in Mexico; Ribera buys a hospital group in Murcia; and, Imed considers the construction of three new hospitals: Valencia, Alicante and Barcelona.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

  • Other themes
    • Francesc Moréu, a well-known health manager, updates his document published in 2020 entitled: “A new health model for a new society” to November 2022. The fundamental thesis is that the health sector was created for another society and the fact that in-depth reforms have not been carried out for more than 40 years is creating problems for patients and professionals (https://drive.google.com/ uc?export=download&id=1W3l4Lz6gH3s-cG7rlKX_2kqKlsorkCy0)

Companies