WHO advances precision medicine as a global health priority

Washington, D.C., June 19, 2026 (PAHO) - The Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted, on May 22, a strategic decision to advance the integration of precision medicine into the global health agenda: The resolution EB158.R2, "Precision medicine: a pathway to targeted, personalized and equitable care.".

Approved at the 79th World Health Assembly, this resolution sets out a roadmap for WHO and countries to integrate precision medicine into health systems, ensuring that its implementation is effective, ethical, and accessible to all populations.

Precision medicine is based on the use of clinical, molecular, and genomic data to guide prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, enabling each individual to receive care tailored to their specific characteristics. This approach contributes to improved health outcomes across a wide range of conditions, from cancer and rare diseases to infectious diseases, maternal, neonatal and child health, mental health, and noncommunicable diseases.

This agreement reflects the growing importance of genomics in biomedical and digital innovation in global health and is linked to key areas such as digital health, artificial intelligence, and universal health coverage.

Through this resolution, WHO Member States commit to:

• Advancing personalized medicine through the integration of genomic data, biomarkers, and clinical information;
• Promoting equitable access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries;
• Strengthening national capacities, including infrastructure and specialized human resources;
• Reinforcing regulatory and governance frameworks, ensuring ethical standards, data protection, and quality;
• Fostering international cooperation for the exchange of data, evidence, and best practices.

WHO experts emphasize that this initiative represents an opportunity to advance toward universal health coverage and more people-centered health systems, highlighting that its implementation must be ethical, inclusive, and sustainable.

"Many populations-especially in low- and middle-income countries-remain underrepresented in data and research, which limits the public health impact of precision medicine and may widen health inequalities if no action is taken now," WHO underscored.

In the short term, WHO reports that it will map existing guidance and frameworks and conduct extensive global stakeholder consultations. Subsequently, a Global Strategy on Precision Medicine is expected to be developed to guide equitable and context-adapted implementation.

Advances in the Americas

In line with this WHO priority, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has strengthened in recent years the promotion of equitable and collaborative genomic initiatives in the Region of the Americas, which are essential to support precision health strategies and reduce inequalities in access to genomic medicine.

In 2024, PAHO convened in Brazil the first regional meeting on human genomics for health, bringing together experts from across the Region with the aim of accelerating access to knowledge and genomic technologies. As a result of this process, initiatives have been advanced, including the development of PAHOHumanGen, the Knowledge portal on human genomics for health.

Persistent Challenges

Despite progress, significant gaps remain in the capacity of health systems in the Region to implement genomic medicine, a key component of precision medicine. These include:

• Expanding genomic representation of diverse and underrepresented populations, including Indigenous Peoples;
• Strengthening regional infrastructure and data systems;
• Developing secure and ethical data-sharing frameworks;
• Promoting the sustainable implementation of genomic health services.

Addressing these challenges will be essential to improve health outcomes and ensure that the benefits of precision medicine reach all populations in the Region.

WHO-PAHO videos on genomics

• The Story of Genomics
• The Importance of Genomics
• Genomics throughout our lives
• The Future of Genomics