Precision Medicine for Cancer and Health Equity in Latin America: Generating Understanding for Policy and Health System Shaping

Ana Rita González (), Lizbeth Alexandra Acuña Merchán, Jorge A. Alatorre Alexander, Diego Kaen, Catalina Lopez-Correa, Claudio Martin, Allira Attwill, Teresa Marinetti, João Victor Rocha and Carlos Barrios
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Ana Rita González: Policy Wisdom LLC, Quebradillas 00678-2705, Puerto Rico
Lizbeth Alexandra Acuña Merchán: Cuenta de Alto Costo, Cra. 45 #103 34 Oficina 802, Bogotá 110111, Colombia
Jorge A. Alatorre Alexander: Health Pharma Professional Research S.A de C.V., Av. Insurgentes Sur 662-Piso 3, Col. Del Valle, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México 03100, Mexico
Diego Kaen: Centro Oncologico Riojano Integral, La Rioja F5300, Argentina
Catalina Lopez-Correa: Genome Canada, 50 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2100, Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1, Canada
Claudio Martin: Alexander Fleming Institute, Av. Crámer 1180—C1426ANZ, Buenos Aires C1426, Argentina
Allira Attwill: Policy Wisdom LLC, Quebradillas 00678-2705, Puerto Rico
Teresa Marinetti: Policy Wisdom LLC, Quebradillas 00678-2705, Puerto Rico
João Victor Rocha: Policy Wisdom LLC, Quebradillas 00678-2705, Puerto Rico
Carlos Barrios: LACOG—Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group, Porto Alegre 91900-580, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-55

Abstract: This study presents and discusses evidence on the value of biomarker testing and precision medicine in Latin America through a health equity lens. It is essential to explore how to harness the benefits of precision medicine to narrow the health equity gap, ensuring all patients have access to the best cancer treatment. The methodology employed to develop this document consists of a non-systematic literature review, followed by a process of validation and feedback with a group of experts in relevant fields. Precision medicine could help reduce health inequities in Latin America by providing better diagnosis and treatment for everyone with cancer. However, its success in achieving this depends on the implementation of policies that promote equitable access. Findings indicate that the current policy landscape in the Latin American region is not conducive to improving access, reach, quality, or outcome-related problems in cancer care, nor to realizing the full potential of precision medicine. The study explores how precision medicine can advance health equity, concluding with an analysis of the challenges and recommendations for overcoming them.

Keywords: precision medicine; biomarker testing; health equity; cancer care; cancer policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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