CADTH routinely identifies new and emerging technologies that are likely to have a significant and meaningful impact on Canada’s health care systems. CADTH’s annual watch lists specifically identify technologies that have the most potential to transform health systems and shape the future of health care in Canada. The annual list anticipates how innovations within technology may affect future health system needs and provides early signals to help guide health system planning. Building on previous lists that examined health technologies across different health conditions and aspects of care, the 2023 Watch List delves deeper into health technologies within a single theme, focusing on key developments within precision medicine technologies.
Key Messages
- CADTH’s 2023 Watch List presents the top 10 precision medicine technologies and issues that have the potential to make a significant and meaningful impact in transforming health systems in Canada over the next 5 years. These technologies and issues are likely to shape the future of health care.
- The Human Genome Project was completed 20 years ago and offers new opportunities to use an individual’s genetic information to manage their health care. Today, as health systems see an emergence of new precision medicine technologies that can use a person’s unique characteristics to inform and tailor their care, the 2023 Watch List unpacks the hype from hope, and indicates where there is likely real opportunity to improve patient care and health systems delivery.
- As part of the 2023 Watch List, we identify and describe the 5 top precision medicine technologies; among them, examples such as liquid biopsies for informing cancer treatments and pharmacogenomics testing for mental health conditions that may shape the future of health care. To prepare health systems for their wider adoption and implementation, the 2023 Watch List explores some considerations for health care decision-makers about the impact and implications the technologies may have on care pathways, health human resources, health care infrastructure, and health equity.
- The 2023 Watch List also identifies the top 5 issues that crosscut the broader scope of precision medicine technologies and could limit health systems from realizing the full potential of the technologies. Among them, issues such as increasing complexity related to interpreting test results and challenges in regulating precision medicine technologies are key issues that likely warrant more attention and will influence the wider adoption, diffusion, and implementation of precision medicine technologies.
- Collectively, monitoring ongoing developments and evidence related to the top technologies and issues highlighted in the 2023 Watch List can help support health care stakeholders to future-proof health systems and guide health system planning in Canada.
Developing the 2023 Watch List
Given that precision medicine is a broad field, the scope of the 2023 Watch List is limited to medical devices, clinical interventions, or other health care technologies that can detect, characterize, or use people’s genomic or protein information to inform and tailor their care. It does not examine precision medicine therapies or other technologies that are defined as drugs by Health Canada (such as most stem cell products), or technologies that are not directly part of clinical care with patient outcomes (e.g., health care information technology software).
To be considered for the list, the technologies also had to be new or emerging; that is, not yet available or widely adopted in Canada beyond a limited number of health care centres or initiatives. Specific examples of technologies, ongoing research studies, or other initiatives are also included to illustrate the items in practice and are provided for general awareness. Items on the 2023 Watch List are not ranked in order of importance, potential impact, or timing of that impact, but some technologies are further along in their development than others. This year’s watch list also identifies the top issues; that is, the policy, social, legal, ethical, or regulatory considerations that crosscut the broader scope of precision medicine technologies and could affect their ongoing development, adoption, or implementation in Canadian health systems. Although effort was made to separate issues into discrete items, due to the interconnectedness of themes, there may be some overlap. The list is not an endorsement of any specific technology and is intended to be used for informational purposes only.
Top Precision Medicine Technologies to Watch
- Digital Tools to Access Genetic Information and Navigate Care
- Liquid Biopsy for Informing Cancer Treatments
- “Omics–Based” Sequencing Technologies Across Pathways of Care
- Pharmacogenomics Tests for Mental Health Conditions
- Population-Based Genetic Screening Interventions
Top Issues About Precision Medicine Technologies to Watch in 2023
- Disparities in the Implementation of Precision Medicine Technologies
- Increased Demands on Health System Capacity and Infrastructure From the Use of Precision Medicine
- Evolving Roles and Scopes of Practice for Health Care Professionals
- Complexity in Interpreting Test Results
- Challenges in Regulating and Evaluating Precision Medicine Technologies
Read the full CADTH Horizon Scans report with extensive technology details.
Source / Europe PMC
