Determining the value of genomics in healthcare

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Source: Nature Medicine

Original: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04061-3...

Published: 2025-11-27

Assessing the value of genomics in healthcare is essential for evidence-based policy making and effective implementation of this technology. Traditional methods for evaluating health technologies fail to fully capture the many benefits of genomics, including the personal value to individuals and their families or the potential to reuse sequencing data to improve clinical care and research[1][3]. Evaluation is complicated by the lack of standardized outcome measures, small sample sizes, and uncertainties arising from the rapid evolution of the technology, its applications, and costs[1]. Health system factors such as infrastructure readiness, staff training, and data management are also key factors that affect the actual use and value of genomic services[3]. The authors emphasize the need for flexible and comprehensive approaches to evaluation that are dynamically informed by real-world data and consider broader aspects of value, including family and societal[1][3]. New tools to quantify the utility of genomics, such as the C-GUIDE or the GUV scale, are helping to capture value beyond traditional health outcomes[3]. The overall approach should be systemic and support the sustainable and equitable integration of genomics into clinical practice[1].