The WHO has issued its first report on the equitable expansion of genomics. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) Science Council says it is not justifiable ethically or scientifically for less-resourced countries to gain access to such technologies long after rich countries do.

The field of genomics uses methods from biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology to understand and use biological information in DNA and RNA, with benefits for medicine and public health - especially during the COVID-19 pandemic - as well as agriculture, biological research and more. 

Genomic surveillance has played a crucial role in the global COVID-19 response, with countries like South Africa able to make crucial contributions in detecting variants, due to their capacities in this area. 

Recent data from WHO shows that the percentage of countries able to conduct genomic surveillance increased from 54 per cent to 68 per cent between March 2021 and January 2022, due to major investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report calls for expanding access to genomic technologies, particularly in lower middle and income countries (LMICs), by addressing shortfalls in financing, laboratory infrastructure, materials, and highly trained personnel.

While the costs of establishing and expanding genomic technologies are declining - making it increasingly feasible for all countries to pursue - they can and should be further lowered, WHO says. 

A range of tools to make genomic technologies more affordable for LMICs have been developed, including tiered pricing, sharing of intellectual property rights for low-cost versions, and cross-subsidization, whereby profits in one area are used to fund another.

"Genomic technologies are driving some of the most ground-breaking research happening today. Yet the benefits of these tools will not be fully realised unless they are deployed worldwide. Only through equity can science reach its full potential impact and improve health for everyone, everywhere,” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist. 

“Through convening and coordinating the world’s leading minds, as we do through our Science Council, WHO acts as a global engine for analysis to address the world’s most pressing health challenges.”

The full report is accessible here.