AGP Executive Report

Cancer Care: New data presented at ESMO in Madrid support adding apalutamide to hormone therapy before and after surgery for high-risk prostate cancer, reducing the risk of metastasis or death. A separate trial found tarlatamab plus durvalumab cut the risk of death by 58% in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Emergency Response: A bus crash near Barcelona injured 83 people, seven seriously. Food Safety: Spain’s health authority issued an alert over glass fragments in a store-brand sauce. Infectious Disease: Spain has stepped up surveillance after a fatal human case of Shamonda virus was reported in France; the virus has also been detected on Spanish farms. Heat Health: Research has linked thousands of deaths in Spain’s cities to summer heat, underlining the health toll of rising temperatures.

Barcelona-Area Crash: A bus plunged about 20 metres down an embankment near Fogars de Montclús, injuring 83 people, including seven seriously. Rescue teams used ambulances, helicopters and mountain-rescue crews; the cause is under investigation. Emergency Care: Spain’s Health Ministry has begun processing a new nursing specialty covering critical care and emergencies, aiming to strengthen training across hospital and out-of-hospital care. Emergency technicians’ society SEMES is also calling for their training to move to a higher vocational level, reflecting their expanding role in urgent care. Heat Health: Researchers estimate Europe’s 2026 summer heat killed more than 50,000 people in cities; Spain was among the hardest-hit countries. The estimate has not yet been peer-reviewed. Prostate Cancer: A study found blood-protein patterns associated with aggressive prostate cancer could appear more than a decade before diagnosis. The research included men from Spain and may help shape future risk prediction, though it is not yet a screening test.

Barcelona-area crash: A bus plunged down a 20-metre embankment near Fogars de Monclús, injuring 83 people, including seven seriously. Emergency crews deployed 23 ambulances and two medical helicopters; the cause is under investigation. Cancer research: Results presented at Madrid’s ESMO congress showed the immunotherapy drug ivonescimab, combined with chemotherapy, improved overall survival in a trial of advanced biliary tract cancer. Screening and prevention: Murcia expanded breast cancer screening to women aged 45–74, while smoking in Spain fell to its lowest level in more than 30 years. Workplace health: Spain introduced paid sick leave rules for menopause-related conditions.

Cancer Research: A phase III trial presented at Madrid’s ESMO congress found sac-TMT plus pembrolizumab extended median progression-free survival in advanced lung cancer to 15 months, versus 5.7 months with the comparison treatment. Infectious Disease: Spain activated surveillance after the first reported human death from Shamonda virus in France; the livestock virus has also been detected on Spanish farms. Heat and Health: Europe’s summer heat was linked to an estimated 50,000 deaths. Prevention: Murcia is expanding breast cancer screening to women aged 45–74, while smoking in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in more than 30 years. Health Policy: Spain has introduced paid sick leave rules for menopause-related conditions.

Food Safety: Spain’s shoppers were warned not to eat an egg product after Salmonella was detected; a separate EROSKI alert flagged glass fragments in ricotta sauce. Cancer Care: Research presented at Madrid’s ESMO congress reported that adding darolutamide to hormone therapy and radiation cut the risk of metastasis or death by 58% in high-risk prostate cancer. A separate trial found durvalumab plus tarlatamab cut the risk of death by 58% in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. Heat and Health: A study estimated that summer heat caused 50,000 deaths in European cities, with nearly two-thirds unlikely to have occurred without climate change. Women’s Health: Spain has introduced new paid sick-leave rules for menopause-related conditions. Prevention: Smoking in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in more than 30 years, while obesity remains high in Murcia.

Cancer Research: Results presented at Madrid’s ESMO congress showed durvalumab plus enfortumab improved survival outcomes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer; a prostate cancer study also found perioperative apalutamide plus hormone therapy extended time without disease events. These are trial findings, not proof of a new standard of care. Food Safety: Shoppers in Spain were warned not to eat an egg product after Salmonella was detected; EROSKI also recalled ricotta sauce over possible glass fragments. Heat & Health: A study estimates Europe’s summer heat caused about 50,000 deaths, with Spanish cities among those affected and climate change linked to much of the toll. IBD Research: Researchers reported blood immune-pattern changes can appear up to a decade before inflammatory bowel disease is diagnosed, pointing to a possible future early-detection tool.

Heat and Health: Europe’s summer heat is estimated to have caused 50,000 deaths in cities, with climate change linked to about two-thirds of the toll; Spanish cities were among those counted. Infectious Disease Watch: Spain has activated Shamonda virus surveillance after the first reported human infection in France, where the patient died. The virus has also been found in Spanish livestock, but investigators have not established that it caused the death. Cancer Screening: Murcia is extending breast cancer screening to women aged 45 to 74. Healthcare Access: Community pharmacies warn that rising electricity bills could force some to close. Nutrition: Spanish households bought 2.4% less fresh fruit and vegetables in the first seven months of 2026 than a year earlier.

Cancer Research: Madrid’s ESMO congress brought encouraging trial results, including an investigational breast cancer drug linked to a 59% lower risk of progression or death than chemotherapy. Early prostate cancer studies also reported promising responses, but the treatments remain under investigation. Infectious Disease: Spain has activated Shamonda virus surveillance after France reported the first known human case, which was fatal. The virus is circulating among livestock, but French authorities say there is no identified risk to the general public. Extreme Heat: A study estimates Europe’s summer heat caused about 50,000 deaths, with climate change responsible for roughly two-thirds. Screening and Care: Murcia is extending breast cancer screening to women aged 45 to 74. Separately, women account for just 18% of ICD implants in Spain, highlighting a stark gap in access to the heart devices.

Emerging Infection: Spain has activated surveillance after France reported the first known human Shamonda virus infection, in a patient who died. The virus has also been found in Spanish livestock; its risks to people remain unclear. Cancer Screening: Murcia is widening breast cancer screening to women aged 45 to 74, extending access to earlier detection. Women’s Health: Spain has introduced paid sick leave for menopause-related conditions, recognizing symptoms that can affect women’s ability to work. Extreme Heat: Record summer heat is estimated to have caused more than 50,000 deaths in European cities, with Spain among the countries reporting the highest tolls. Researchers attribute about two-thirds of the deaths to climate change. Prevention: Smoking in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in more than 30 years.

Infectious Disease Watch: Spain has stepped up surveillance of Shamonda virus after France reported the first human infection, in a severely immunocompromised patient who died. The virus has been found in livestock in several Spanish regions, but authorities say no risk to the general public has been identified. Cancer Screening: Murcia will expand breast cancer screening to women aged 45–74, with invitations due to begin next week. The region performed more than 70,000 preventive mammograms last year and is preparing to extend trials of AI-assisted screening. Women’s Health: Spain has introduced paid sick leave for menopause-related conditions, recognising symptoms that can affect women’s ability to work. Prevention and Wellbeing: Smoking in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in more than 30 years, but excess weight remains a concern: six in ten adults in Murcia are overweight or obese.

Prevention: Smoking in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in more than 30 years, while six in ten adults in Murcia have excess weight, highlighting a continuing challenge for public health. Health Inequality: A report on Spain says social class can strongly shape health outcomes, underscoring how circumstances affect access to wellbeing. Breast Cancer Care: A Málaga hospital has brought ten medical specialties together to strengthen breast cancer treatment. Food Safety: Authorities are investigating two suspected food-poisoning outbreaks at weddings in Málaga after 80 people fell ill.

Breast Cancer Care: A Málaga hospital has brought 10 medical specialties together to strengthen breast cancer care. Public Health: Smoking in Murcia has fallen to its lowest recorded level, while obesity remains high. Separately, officials are investigating two suspected food-poisoning outbreaks at Málaga weddings after about 80 people fell ill. Care and Support: Spain’s new social-protection package includes sick leave for disabling menopause conditions and more help for families caring for seriously ill children. Spanish health workers also helped a terminally ill patient fulfil her wish to see the sea. Cancer Research: Spain is showcasing its oncology research at the ESMO congress in Madrid, as pancreatic cancer patients and specialists call for faster access to innovative treatments. Air Quality: Spain’s ozone pollution has reached its highest levels since 2010, raising concerns about health impacts.

Compassionate Care: Spanish health workers helped a terminally ill patient fulfil her wish to see the sea. Cancer Research: Spain is highlighting its role in oncology research ahead of the ESMO congress in Madrid, while cancer patients and specialists are pressing for faster access to innovative pancreatic cancer treatments and more breast cancer research. Mediterranean Diet: A study spanning four cohorts, including Spanish participants, found that blood markers linked to Mediterranean-diet habits were associated with longer survival. Air Quality: Murcia’s ozone pollution reached its second-highest level since 2017, renewing concerns about the health effects of poor air. Storm Safety: Deadly floods in Spain have left four people dead, with residents ordered to stay indoors as torrential rain battered the country.

Flood Emergency: Storm Adam has killed four people in eastern Spain, with torrential rain washing away cars and authorities ordering residents indoors. Cancer Research: Spain highlighted its role in oncology research at the ESMO congress in Madrid: 378 of 962 clinical trials launched in the country last year focused on cancer. Air Quality: Murcia’s ozone pollution reached its second-highest level since 2017, renewing concerns about exposure to unhealthy air. Healthcare Services: Andalusian doctors have announced an indefinite strike from November 13, while pediatricians warn of measles reappearing in Spain.

Extreme Weather: Storm Adam brought severe flooding to eastern Spain, killing several people and prompting rooftop rescues and military deployments. Cancer Care: Spain’s oncology society, SEOM, is calling for more breast cancer research to improve survival and quality of life; a cancer-awareness march is set to return to Los Alcázares on October 25. Infectious Disease: Spanish pediatricians ended their annual congress with a warning about measles reappearing, underscoring the need for vigilance and vaccination. Medicines Policy: The Health Ministry may still approve a decree on how medicines are funded and priced in Spain’s national health system, with a senior official saying it aims to do so before November 29. Nutrition: Mercadona is making food labels easier to read, enlarging type and reorganising ingredient, nutrition and cooking information; the changes have reached about 4,000 products, with more planned.

Measles Watch: Spain’s pediatricians closed their national congress warning that measles is reappearing, underscoring the need to protect vaccination coverage. Breast Cancer: On World Breast Cancer Day, SEOM urged more research to improve survival and quality of life; Spain is expected to record over 38,000 new cases in 2026 and about 6,500 deaths a year. Gut Health: A study links antibiotic use in childhood with higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome in young adulthood, while other research suggests immune changes may precede inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis by up to a decade. Healthcare Access: Spanish doctors have announced an indefinite strike from Nov. 13, raising concerns about disruption to care. Healthy Ageing: A Barcelona cooking program pairs visitors with older residents to share traditional recipes and help combat loneliness.