Politics
health system
Society
Almost 24,000 patients have to wait longer than guaranteed surgery time
Society
World’s smallest pacemaker implanted in 4 patients in Barcelona's Hospital Clínic
Society
Barcelona doctors can perform breast reconstruction in a single surgery
Society
Catalan Oncology Institute will pay Roche drugs depending on clinical results
Politics
Demonstration in Barcelona against austerity and “antisocial” policies
Society
First time creating “micro-kidneys” from stem cells
Society
Feather pillows can cause a chronic and eventually fatal breath shortness disease according to a Catalan study
Society
Ambulance workers go on strike in Catalonia for four days but essential services are guaranteed
Society
'The HIV vaccine is an international effort' states HIVACAT Scientific Director Christian Brander
Society
A private medical centre on the Costa Brava wants to attract more European healthcare tourism
The healthcare tourism sector is growing. Russian, British and German visitors make the most of their holiday trip by visiting specialists, passing medical tests or undergoing a surgical operation. As a response to this, a private medical center in Girona has announced that it will invest more than €1 million to profit from healthcare tourism.
Society
Survival rate of inoperable lung cancer patients raises to 80% with a pioneering technique developed in Catalonia
The Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) has introduced a world pioneering technique which allows four out of five patients who cannot undergo surgery to survive the illness. This technique causes less after-effects than the traditional radiotherapy. Furthermore, statistics show that with the regular treatment, two thirds of these patients die. However, Ferran Gadea, the Head of the Radiotherapy and Oncology Service, says that the best option to cure a lung cancer is still to undergo the operation when possible.
Society
Catalonia, leader in organ transplants despite donor reduction
A better use of body organs has led to an increase in transplant rates in Catalonia despite a lower number of donors. In 2012, 872 organ transplants were made in Catalan hospitals and waiting lists were reduced by 4.6%. Lung transplants increased by 35% and heart donors increased by 18.7%.
Society
The University of Barcelona and the Hospital Clínic unveil a new biomedicine centre with more than 200 researchers
The IDIBAPS has opened a new research centre of more than 5,000 m2, where more than 200 researchers split into 23 different research groups will be working. It will focus its work on oncology, neurosciences and cell therapies along with infectious, respiratory, cardiovascular and renal diseases. The new centre has been possible thanks to a donation by the private foundation CELLEX, sponsored by Pere Mir. The new centre is located within the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Medicine, which is integrated into the prestigious Hospital Clínic. The centre consolidates Catalonia, and in particular Barcelona, as one of Europe’s main biomedical poles.
Society
Catalan hospital staff members demonstrate to support public healthcare
Staff members from Catalonia’s main hospitals, including Sant Pau, Vall d’Hebron, Clínic, Parc Taulí and Germans Trias i Pujol, carried out several protests on Wednesday. Some of these protests had already started a few days ago and might last a few days longer, such as spending the night in the hospital lobby. They are demonstrating to criticise the budget cuts affecting health centres and to defend the public healthcare system. Some of these hospitals are recognised at an international level for their top quality clinical and scientific research work.