Healthcare System-Funded Preventive Genomic Screening: Challenges for Australia and Other Single-Payer Systems

The prospect of healthcare systems offering population-based preventive genomic testing to all adults is becoming feasible. Some single-payer or state-funded healthcare systems are already considering offering universal testing as part of routine care. In countries with public healthcare systems, there is a unique opportunity to provide such testing in the form of a national screening program, following existing national population health-screening frameworks. This paradigm, if achievable, could help deliver a degree of testing quality and equity-of-access that may not be possible in private-payer or direct-to-consumer models, to maximize prevention and health benefits. Here, we outline some of the major challenges ahead in considering this prospect and discuss the research that is helping shape the future direction in Australia and elsewhere.