Article

The life-changing value of diagnostics

Understanding the small things that can happen in our bodies

Diagnostics, or tools used to detect infections, conditions and diseases, and the risks thereof, play a fundamental role in self-awareness and the way that clinicians can help improve the health of people.

Diagnostics enable the collection of critical data, generating accurate and high-quality information that is fundamental as we act to address the challenges faced in the delivery of effective healthcare. They help us to better understand the small things happening in our bodies, and in turn, help inform clinical decisions that can potentially save lives.

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Whether it's cancer, an infectious disease, a cardiac event or other serious health threat, the search for a solution to some of healthcare’s greatest challenges starts with, and depends on, diagnostics. The more informed we are, the more care and treatment can be optimized.

 

The field of diagnostics is significantly undervalued. In vitro diagnostics (IVDs) play a critical role in improving health outcomes, yet account for only 2% of global healthcare funding. Despite this, IVDs support 70% of healthcare decisions across the average patient’s journey.1

 

At present, we can gather an astonishing amount of information from even the smallest sample. Less-invasive sampling techniques and significant advances in data science have truly revolutionized screening. We can create powerful procedures for disease prediction, which could help people to stay healthier for longer.

Our goal is to spark conversation around the true value of diagnostics, in addition to exploring best practices to ensure equitable access.

Thomas Schinecker

“Diagnostics have a positive impact on your health, the health of the people you care about, and on society as a whole.”

Thomas Schinecker, CEO Roche Group

Read the full foreword

Real-world examples of how diagnostics can lead to improved health

The Diagnostics Journey Atlas

A major part of our ambition is to spark conversation around the true value of diagnostics, in addition to exploring best practices to ensure equitable access. 

That’s why Roche is publishing the Diagnostic Journey Atlas, to outline the way in which diagnostics meaningfully impacts healthcare systems, and how supporting the field can lead to improved and more efficient health outcomes for people worldwide.

Across six modules, published throughout the year, the Diagnostics Journey Atlas will provide real-world examples of how diagnostics can help lead to improved health outcomes.

Module 1

Module 1

The value of diagnostics across the patient journey

Learn about the value of diagnostics and what can be done to ensure seamless access to diagnostic tools and technologies to aid healthcare institutions in saving lives.

Discover Module I
Module 2

Module 2

Diagnostics in early warning, screening and disease prevention: a triad for success in healthcare

From preventive health screenings to blood safety and genetic testing, discover the value of diagnostics in aiding disease prevention and putting the health back in healthcare.

Discover Module II
Module 3 Diagnostics and treatment initiations

Module 3

Improving care through early diagnosis

Today’s innovative diagnostic tests play an essential role in arming healthcare professionals with information that allows them to guide decisions. This may ultimately lead to improving patients’ quality of life and helping society better manage chronic conditions.


Discover Module III

Module 4

Module 4

The crucial role of diagnostics in disease management

Diagnostics not only guide clinicians with diagnosis and treatment options, but can also help prevent health issues from worsening, informing disease management to help people live longer lives.


Discover Module IV

Module 5

Module 5

Looking ahead: embracing new approaches to transform healthcare

Rethinking the way healthcare systems operate is imperative to transforming the way care is delivered and received. What should be the role of diagnostics in the transformation of healthcare?

Discover Module V

Our Advisory Council:

bringing to life the value of diagnostics

Our Advisory Council consists of experts from around the world, each with a unique perspective on topics within the diagnostics conversation. They have a wealth of expertise on how diagnostic solutions can contribute to improving health outcomes, support more accurate and timely diagnoses, and reduce pressures on health systems. Read more about our Advisory Council members below.

Durhane Wong-Rieger

Durhane is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD). She began working with CORD as a volunteer in 2006, during which she developed an Orphan Drug Policy and led an advocacy campaign to improve access to new therapies for rare diseases. Durhane has served on numerous health policy advisory committees and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Genetics, belonging to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

She is also a member of the Patient Liaison Forum for the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Moreover, Durhane believes strongly in the value of international collaboration and serves on the Board of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, acting as Chair in 2011-2013.

John is the founder of NostaLab, a digital health think tank recognised globally for its inspired vision of transformation. He is one of the leading global influencers in medical innovation and technology, helping to define, dissect and deliberate global trends in digital health. In 2019, he was added to the World Health Organization’s Digital Health Roster of Experts and in 2020, he was listed as a top 50 global COVID-19 influencer. John also serves as a member of the Google Health Advisory Board.

John Nosta
Professor Tikki Pangestu

Professor Tikki Pangestu joined the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore after 13 years with the World Health Organization (WHO) as Director of its Research Policy and Cooperation program. In this capacity, he worked with countries to strengthen their national health research systems, developed mechanisms and initiatives to improve the efficiency and transparency of global health research, and helped formulate an organization-wide research policy.

Janet is a Medical Oncologist and Content Manager at CancerCare.bg, the first ever Bulgarian Foundation supporting cancer patients and their loved ones. Janet is behind the organisation of Think Pink Europe’s ‘Race for the Cure’, an annual worldwide sports event dedicated to breast cancer. Previously, she was a Youth Ambassador of the Association of European Cancer Leagues, where she raised awareness of the European Code Against Cancer and its twelve recommendations for cancer prevention.

Dr. Janet Raycheva
Anubha Taneja-Mukherjee

Anubha Taneja-Mukherjee has close to fifteen years of experience in the area of advocacy. A thalassemic herself, Mukherjee has been working for the cause of thalassemia since her early years in Thalassemics India. Mukherjee was invited by Thalassemics India (a not for profit organization in existence for 35 years) to set up and lead Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group in 2017. As the Member Secretary of TPAG, she collaborates with multiple stakeholders including policy makers and leads discussions on prevention, management & treatment of disabilities like thalassemia. Mukherjee’s experience of trial and policy advocacy across sectors enables her to apply the knowledge of law, which she describes as a ‘way to think as opposed to a subject’, to complicated situations at hand.

References

  1. Rohr, U. P et al, (2016). PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149856