[Analysis of equity and budgetary sustainability of the pharmaceutical co-payment system in Spain].

Objective: To estimate the impact of a more equitable pharmaceutical co-payment system by eliminating the distinction between active workers and pensioners, using only personal income as an adjustment parameter, defining more detailed income brackets, and introducing protective limits on personal expenditure.

Method: Data from a random sample of 4,505,483 individuals residing in Spain were used, matching pharmaceutical consumption information from the Ministry of Health with economic data from the Tax Agency. Five microsimulation scenarios were designed, modifying co-payment percentages and monthly limits, and the effects on public pharmaceutical spending, the economic burden between patients and the Spanish National Health System, and the redistribution of the burden among patient groups were evaluated.

Pinocchio testing in the forensic analysis of waiting lists: using public waiting list data from Finland and Spain for testing Newcomb-Benford's Law.

Objective: Newcomb-Benford's Law (NBL) proposes a regular distribution for first digits, second digits and digit combinations applicable to many different naturally occurring sources of data. Testing deviations from NBL is used in many datasets as a screening tool for identifying data trustworthiness problems. This study aims to compare public available waiting lists (WL) data from Finland and Spain for testing NBL as an instrument to flag up potential manipulation in WLs.