Wits scientist part of global initiative on precision health

11 June 2026 - Wits University

Prof. Michèle Ramsay at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience is one of four co-chairs of the Lancet Commission on Precision Health.

The Commission will examine how precision approaches can improve healthcare effectiveness, cost-efficiency, equity, and scalability worldwide.

One of the Commission's aims is to develop a framework to guide the integration of precision approaches into health systems across diverse global settings.

Recognising differences to inform action

The experts explain that precision health moves beyond a one-size-fits-all paradigm. Rather than treating variation in treatment response solely as statistical noise, it aims to identify clinically meaningful differences between people and translate this information into actionable, personalised decision support.

"Precision health is not about creating bespoke medicine for a few people, but about using the knowledge we already have on individuals and populations, including genetic, biological, environmental, behavioural and social factors, to make healthcare decisions more impactful, equitable and effective," says Ramsay

The Commission formally commenced its work in January 2026 and will meet regularly over the coming years.

A series of international meetings will culminate in a final report to be published in The Lancet, followed by a global launch event.

The Commission brings together international experts in clinical medicine, genomics, health economics, biostatistics, ethics, priority setting, and implementation science.

Commissioners also include leaders of major national precision health initiatives and experts in community engagement and equity.

"We anticipate that the Commission's recommendations will help enhance contemporary healthcare systems, while also reimaging how healthcare works to ensure more sustainable, fairer, and effective healthcare in the future", says Professor Paul Franks at Lund University in Sweden, who chairs the Commission.

Addressing ageing and illness in Africa

He explains that with progressively ageing populations worldwide, people are living longer with chronic disease, placing an enormous burden on healthcare systems.

Contemporary healthcare relies on prescribing treatments based on what is known about their average effects.

While many medicines are broadly effective, they do not work equally well for everyone, which means both wasting resources and that many patients do not benefit meaningfully.

"We also know that most genomic datasets used to predict disease risk and treat health conditions come from people of European origin," says Ramsay. "As a result, the genetic 'patterns' guiding modern medicine are essentially Eurocentric and may poorly predict diseases in African populations," says Ramsay.

Enabling equity and access

Indeed, precision health will only be equitable if the evidence, tools and implementation frameworks behind it reflect the diversity of the populations they are meant to serve. Therefore, the Commission will address the urgent need for innovation in healthcare systems.

The Commission will also challenge the prevailing perception that precision healthcare is inherently expensive and only relevant to high-income settings.

"There is a misconception that precision medicine is very expensive and only suitable for high-income healthcare settings. That is true if you have a very narrow definition and view it through the lens of what is currently practised in Western healthcare systems," adds Franks.

The Commission will explore how stratified approaches could improve cost-effectiveness, including in low- and middle-income countries, by targeting interventions to those most likely to benefit.

Five working groups have been established to address:

• The current landscape of precision health in practice
• Clinical implementation paths for precision health
• Research infrastructure, data analysis approaches, and study design
• Governance, Regulation, and Accountability
• Health economics, impact assessment, and priority setting to determine the costs of action and inaction

The Commission is chaired by Professor Paul Franks (Lund University, Sweden) and co-chaired by Professor Lee-Ling Lim (Universiti Malaya, Malaysia), Professor Michèle Ramsay (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa), and Associate Professor Sanjay Chotirmall (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore).

Further information on the Commission is available here.