Advancing Access to Next-Generation Sequencing for Cancer in the APAC Region

A recent white paper by the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed) highlights the transformative role of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in improving cancer care across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. NGS enables personalized oncology approaches by providing comprehensive tumor profiling, which can identify targeted therapies and streamline clinical trial participation. Despite its benefits, access to NGS remains limited in APAC due to policy gaps, inadequate infrastructure, and reimbursement challenges.

To address these barriers, APACMed recommends six key strategies: integrating NGS into national health programs, developing genomic infrastructure, expanding NGS-guided drug trials, implementing evaluation frameworks, promoting education and awareness, and ensuring equitable access to genomic technologies. The paper also introduces a tailored Value Assessment Framework (VAF) to evaluate the broad clinical, economic, and societal benefits of NGS.

This report offers valuable insights for Australian genomics professionals, particularly in aligning national strategies with global best practices to enhance genomic healthcare access.

Read the full paper on APACMed’s website.

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