Healthcare
807 newsReaders can follow how national headlines become local stories across Spanish cities, regions, institutions and communities.
Spain moves to expand benefits before November vote
The government plans to expand temporary-incapacity protection and several pension and family benefits before the 29 November election. It is also preparing an increase of about 5% in the minimum wage, while a CPI-linked pension rise is planned for after the vote.
Researchers trace severe COVID’s damage inside the lungs
Lung samples from 19 people who died of COVID-19 reveal the loss of oxygen-exchanging tissue and a rise in scar-forming cells. Researchers say existing antifibrotic medicines need preclinical testing before they can be considered as treatments.
Cabergoline tied to lower breast cancer risk after childbirth
Records from more than 150,000 women in Spain and Norway linked cabergoline use after childbirth to about 70% lower breast cancer risk. Clinical trials must test whether the association holds.
Bustinduy presses for fairer taxes and higher wages
Pablo Bustinduy used the CREO forum’s second day to press for fairer taxes and higher pay. He warned that corporate concentration and rising wealth at the top are weakening redistribution and consumer bargaining power.
Spain’s Thyroid Cancer Care Must Measure Life After Treatment
About 90% of patients in Spain survive thyroid cancer. AECAT says care must also track lasting symptoms and the ability to return to ordinary life.
Silent receptor weakens tumour defence in mouse and human cells
A Nature study found that gamma-delta T cells lose tumour-fighting strength when their receptor stops working after maturation. The result points to a condition future immunotherapy research will need to preserve.
Vaccination takes a bigger role in heart protection
Flu can raise heart attack risk tenfold in vulnerable patients. SEMERGEN specialists want vaccination folded into cardiovascular care, where infection prevention can reduce severe complications.
Spain reportedly expands CGM for basal-insulin diabetes care
A reported Spanish consensus would make continuous glucose monitoring routine for some type 2 diabetes patients using basal insulin. International guidance supports considering CGM for insulin-treated patients, but the Spanish figures still need the source document.
Europe narrows the cancer drug access gap, but Spain still faces delays
Austria and Switzerland led Europe in the use of newer cancer medicines in 2023, while Spain stayed in the middle. Approval and funding still do not guarantee that patients receive treatment quickly.
Grupo Sanitario Ribera ramps up expansion drive across Spain and Portugal
Grupo Sanitario Ribera is moving fast to double its presence, snapping up hospitals and clinics across Spain and Portugal. The company’s leaders see consolidation as the only way forward for private healthcare.
Spanish health expert demands patient-first overhaul in public healthcare
Jaime Rodríguez-Arana, professor of administrative law, says Spain’s healthcare system needs to put people before paperwork. He warns that bureaucracy and old habits are holding back patient care, and urges open data and real quality checks.
Spanish doctors triple survival for multiple myeloma patients
Spanish patients with multiple myeloma now live three times longer than before, thanks to a wave of medical innovation and close cooperation between researchers and the pharmaceutical industry. Some even achieve functional remission.
Philips brings AI diagnostics to Spanish hospitals
Philips is rolling out AI-powered diagnostic tools across Spain, pushing hospitals to rethink how they deliver care. Miguel de Foronda says only real, scalable innovation can keep up with growing patient needs.
AbbVie: Spain risks falling behind in global pharma innovation
AbbVie's top executive in Spain warns that the country could lose its place in global medical innovation unless it ramps up investment and reforms. He calls for bold moves to keep Spain competitive as Europe trails the US and China.
PharmaMar faces hurdles bringing Zepzelca to European patients
Zepzelca, PharmaMar’s treatment for small cell lung cancer, remains out of reach for European patients as regulatory and reimbursement processes drag on. Despite proven benefits and US approval, the drug’s future in Spain depends on government action and industry support.
Spanish generic medicines face crisis as price rules threaten supply
Spain’s generic drug sector is sounding the alarm over government price controls that, according to industry leaders, are pushing prices to unsustainable lows and risking the country’s ability to guarantee vital medicines.
Incyte Biosciences Iberia demands faster access to new medicines
Incyte Biosciences Iberia has invested €130 million in Spanish R&D and clinical trials, but patients still wait too long for new treatments. Company leaders want clearer deals and quicker approvals to match Spain’s scientific strength.
Spanish pharmacies face foreign takeover threat
Spain’s unique pharmacy system is under fire as foreign groups and regulatory changes threaten the independence of local pharmacists. Industry leaders warn that the country’s healthcare access and rural cohesion could be at risk if the current model is undermined.
PP puts healthcare reform at the center of its election push
Healthcare is now the main battleground for the Partido Popular as elections near. Carmen Fúnez pledges a major overhaul of Spain's health system, with a focus on unity, support for professionals, and stable funding.
Spain pushes for strategic autonomy in medicine production
Spain’s pharmaceutical leaders are urging a shift toward strategic autonomy in medicine manufacturing. At a key Madrid symposium, industry voices outlined how innovation, public policy, and cross-border alliances could protect Europe from future supply shocks.
Doctors postpone indefinite strike after election call
Spain's doctors have delayed their indefinite stoppage from 28 October after an early general election was called for 29 November 2026. The strike remains active and could return if the next Government does not answer demands for a separate medical statute.
Bárbara Burgos Blasco named top young ophthalmologist in Spain
At just 33, Bárbara Burgos Blasco has been recognized as Spain’s leading young ophthalmologist. The Arruga 2026 award highlights her achievements in research, teaching, and clinical care at Hospital Clínico San Carlos.
Spain leaves osteoporosis patients exposed after a first fracture
Spain records about 285,000 fragility fractures each year. Specialists say too many eligible patients still miss treatment and follow-up after the first fracture.
Madrid drives Spain's private healthcare expansion
Madrid remains Spain's leading region for healthcare privatisation. Asturias, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha are catching up fastest, while private cover and out-of-pocket costs deepen differences in access.
October light loss puts vitamin D at risk in Spanish adults
Vitamin D levels may fall as October brings less useful sunlight, but available search results do not confirm that more than 60% of Spanish adults are affected. Testing matters because excess supplements can damage health.
Spain cuts the legal deadline for dependency rulings to three months
Ley 4/2026 cuts Spain's legal deadline for deciding dependency applications from six months to three. The reform also changes assessments, links dependency grades to disability status and expands access to support.
Meningitis warning reaches only a minority of Spanish families
Only 27% of Spanish parents know meningitis can become fatal within hours. Awareness is even lower among teenagers despite the risk of lasting damage.
Melanoma target may improve immunotherapy response
A Vall d'Hebron study points to p38a as a possible melanoma treatment target. Blocking the protein improved anti-PD-1 therapy in animal models, while a nine-gene profile may help identify tumours more likely to respond.
Madrid broadens flu vaccination for children before early peak
Madrid has opened its joint flu and covid campaign with 1.79 million flu doses. Children under seven join the universal programme for the first time as nurses demand stronger staffing plans.
Madrid opens flu vaccination to children through age seven
Madrid's 2026/2027 flu campaign began on 5 October with 1.79 million doses. Children through age seven are now covered, while people over 70 and at-risk patients can receive flu and Covid vaccines in one visit.
Spain's health system puts regional leadership under scrutiny
Spain's public health leaders met to examine the system's next challenges. The debate focused on regional responsibility, national coordination and the tests that will shape the system's resilience.
Spain Unveils New Roadmap for Flu Prevention
A new white paper sets out 14 recommendations for flu prevention in Spain. It links vaccination coverage with access, coordination and protection for people at higher risk.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Could Affect 1% of Spain by 2030
About 300,000 people in Spain live with inflammatory bowel disease. GETECCU and ACCU are calling for faster diagnosis, equal access to specialist treatment and regular psychological support.
Spain's bowel disease care faces a nationwide equality test
GETECCU and ACCU España have presented a ten-point plan for inflammatory bowel disease care in Spain. The groups say access to specialist units and treatment still varies between autonomous communities.
Madrid sets October 5, 2026 start for flu vaccinations
Madrid will begin flu vaccinations on October 5, 2026. People aged 60 and over and children from six months to seven years will get priority, followed by healthcare workers and other risk groups.
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