Helping children with serious diagnoses fulfill their greatest wishes, caring for people affected by multiple sclerosis who face more limitations at home, encouraging skin-to-skin contact for premature babies when families cannot provide a warm hug, and transforming pediatric intensive care units with fantasy and music takes readers to vibrant, full worlds. This happens daily through dedicated work from four projects in the Community of Madrid honored in the eighth Teva Humanitarian Healthcare Awards.
The award ceremony took place this Monday at the Rafael del Pino Auditorium in Madrid, recognizing 11 projects across the country from more than 100 submissions in this edition.
Teva Humanization of Healthcare Awards 2023 focus on recognizing programs and initiatives that improve the experiences of patients and their families within the healthcare environment. These awards celebrate efforts that add value by humanizing care, easing fears, providing psychological support, and creating a warmer, safer setting for patients.
Juan Carlos Conde, Teva’s general manager for Spain and Portugal, said that humanizing health improves the quality of life for patients, their families, and their surroundings. He emphasized empathizing with people in their most challenging moments and extending a helping hand during difficult times.
These awards serve as industry benchmarks, making visible the work that moves humanization forward across different units, helping projects advance and grow beyond the status quo.
This year the winning projects came from Turkey and several regions within Spain, including the Community of Madrid, Aragon, Andalusia, the Valencian Community, and Galicia. They are:
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Therapeutic and sensory garden for patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias by the Zaragoza Association of Relatives of Alzheimer’s Patients (Adefaz).
The project creates a therapeutic, sensory garden for Alzheimer’s patients. A natural environment supports cognitive benefits through aromas from aromatic plants and physical activity through gardening, while also boosting social and emotional well-being as participants connect with one another.
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A hospital with a soul by the Andrés Olivares Foundation.
This initiative offers comprehensive support for families of children and adolescents with cancer from ages 0 to 21 through activities and services at the foundation’s headquarters and at Malaga Maternity and Children’s Hospital. The goal is to help children remain children, while ensuring families overcome the cancer journey with resilience and care.
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Carer Thursday by the Huelva Alzheimer’s Patients Association (AFA).
This project assists family members who care for someone with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It promotes caregiver health, personal well-being, and the ability to continue caregiving under optimal conditions for both patients and caregivers, combining informative, playful, and cultural activities.
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Fantasy in vein by the Music Association in Vena.
The project coordinates music tours of pediatric intensive care units and children’s hospitals across the Community of Madrid. Once a month, performers in costume—characters from stories, cartoons, and films—visit centers to engage children. Volunteer musicians with empathy and high artistic quality lead these sessions.
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Make a Wish by the Little Wish Foundation.
Fulfilling a wish for children facing serious illnesses generates positive emotions that significantly impact health and quality of life. Medical teams collaborate with families across 35 Spanish hospitals, helping the child’s most cherished dream come true. Each year, more than 400 children see their dreams realized thanks to the foundation’s work.
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Musical wings by Asociación Somos Música.
Weekly concerts accompany patients and offer moments of joy to families and caregivers, improving emotional well-being and supporting recovery. The program relies on student volunteers who collaborate with patients, with more than 48 sessions reaching over 1,200 patients and family members.
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Casa Joan is another special way to show care by the Cudeca Foundation.
The program enhances the quality of life for the child and family through active, functional, and creative rehabilitation. It promotes autonomy, self-esteem, dignity, and emotional well-being using therapies such as hydrotherapy, music therapy, and animal-assisted therapy alongside family participation.
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Contact: skin to skin with premature babies by the Madrid Association of Premature Parents and Children (Aprem).
The initiative supports neonatal care with kangaroo moms and dads and offers ongoing professional guidance after discharge to monitor early life needs and ensure families stay connected with care providers during the first year.
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Beautification of pediatric hospital areas by the Andrea Foundation.
The project aims to make stays in Galician hospitals more comfortable for children and their families. It updates waiting rooms, pediatric ward common areas, ICU-adjacent rooms, and emergency departments with new furniture, entertainment, books, toys, and technology. Murals and vinyl art brighten walls and spaces.
A more effective, closer and humane treatment
Each of the 11 Teva Award winners will receive 3,000 euros to continue advancing their projects and adding ethical value to the healthcare system. The focus remains on delivering emotionally connected, humane care for patients with serious conditions over the long term, enhancing overall healthcare quality.
With this eighth edition, a total of 88 winning projects have shared 264,000 euros in donations.
The growing importance of healthcare humanization reflects ongoing efforts within the Spanish health system. It recognizes the dedication of professionals who strive to offer innovative solutions that improve not only patients’ lives but also the well-being of families and patient associations.
Teva, a global pharmaceutical company serving 200 million people daily
Teva stands among the leading producers of medicines, reaching hundreds of millions of people every day. Its model centers on sustainability, accessibility, and innovation across the entire drug cycle, from development to delivery. The company emphasizes patient focus, producing affordable, high-quality medicines and active ingredients while maintaining a strong commitment to society and the environment, with a substantial portion of production based in Europe.