Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Cancer Fast-Track Programme.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of clinical practice in oncology, particularly regarding early cancer diagnosis, sparking public health concerns that possible delays could increase the proportion of patients diagnosed at advanced stages. In 2009, a cancer fast-track program (CFP) was implemented at the Clinico-Malvarrosa Health Department in Valencia, Spain with the aim of shortening waiting times between suspected cancer symptoms, diagnosis and therapy initiation. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our cancer diagnosis fast-track program. METHODS: The program workflow (patients included and time periods) was analysed from the beginning of the state of alarm on March 16th, 2020 until March 15th, 2021. Data was compared with data from the same period of time from the year before (2019). RESULTS: During the pandemic year, 975 suspected cancer cases were submitted to the CFP. The number of submissions only decreased during times of highest COVID-19 incidence and stricter lockdown, and overall, referrals were slightly higher than in the previous 2 years. Cancer diagnosis was confirmed in 197 (24.1%) cases, among which 33% were urological, 23% breast, 16% gastrointestinal and 9% lung cancer. The median time from referral to specialist appointment was 13 days and diagnosis was reached at a median of 18 days. In confirmed cancer cases, treatment was started at around 30 days from time of diagnosis. In total, 61% of cancer disease was detected at early stage, 20% at locally advanced stage, and 19% at advanced stage, displaying time frames and case proportions similar to pre-pandemic years. CONCLUSIONS: Our program has been able to maintain normal flow and efficacy despite the challenges of the current pandemic, and has proven a reliable tool to help primary care physicians referring suspected cancer patients.

COVID-19 and SMEs Digital Transformation

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between digital marketing (DM), digital transformation, and brand position and brand promotion in companies of different sizes in Kosovo. Partial least square was used to analyze the data collected and structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationship between exogenous and endogenous variables used in the model proposed for the research. The results showed that the DM and the digitalization process of companies had an impact on brand promotion and brand position. The results also showed that social media use was prevalent compared with other marketing channels, and that companies that used DM and invested more in technology had better chances of promoting and positioning their brands. This study provides the literature with a better understanding of the relationship between DM and digital transformation on the one hand and brand position and brand promotion on the other. In addition, this research has practical implications for companies and various other organizations in their efforts to digitize their business and marketing activities. IEEE

The Pharmaceutical Patents in Reason of Covid 19 from the Perspective of Law and Economics Movement

This paper have by object to clarify the dilemma related with the exploitation monopoly created by pharmaceutical invention patents, which, while incentive the innovation, in turn, represent obstacles to accessing essential medicines, as a patented thing, and therefore, it will be sold at high costs in the market. This affects the enjoyment of the right to health of patients, because it's products with a few elasticity or near substitutes, and while the patent be valid;No other competitor can carry out, without the authorization of the owner, the acts mentioned in Article 28 of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement. © 2021 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. All rights reserved.