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IMPROVING AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINES AND MEDICAL DEVICES Shortages of medicines have been a problem in the EU and globally long before the pandemic. Moreover, EMA and ETF members have contributed to scientific and regulatory initiatives by EU bodies such as the directorate-general of the European Commission, the HERA and the EU member states to purchase and use available medicines. With the emergence of COVID-19 in early 2019, the European Union (EU) was confronted with unexpected challenges on many fronts. Finally, the high number of medicines developed and assessed for COVID-19 as opposed to previous emergencies, as well as the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, have clearly highlighted the need for the EU network to become more agile and to better use available resources in Europe. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the need to further improve the communication of information on the benefit and risk of medicines to patients and citizens as of December 2020. Topics covered include the increasing demand from civil society for the rationale on medical decisions, and the explanation of the science and facts of medicines in terms that the public can understand. Also noted is the importance of high-quality and clear information in the regulatory process.

Objectives: To report complications that are very rare in patients undergoing radical cystectomy and Bricker's ileal conduit. In accordance to the literature and our own experience, to remark the importance of a proper preoperative preparation (nutritional, preanesthetic evaluation...), and adequate postoperative controls to avoid this kind of problems., Methods: We report three cases which are demonstrative of these complications, their main characteristics, as well as their diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes., Results: All three cases were complicated by fistulae, with different outcomes. The diagnostic measures undertook on each one are reviewed in detail. Although it is well shown in the literature that most of these fistulae appear in patients with intestinal inflammatory/infectious diseases, this was not our experience., Conclusions: After a bibliographic review and study of our cases, we insist on the importance of a good nutritional evaluation before surgery, and that radical cystectomy with Bricker's type urinary diversion, although consolidated as treatment for infiltrative bladder cancer, is not exempt of immediate postoperative complications or even deferred, as in our case.