Introducing ASPIRE (ASia Precision Medicine Initiative for Reimbursement & Evidence)

About ASPIRE

ASPIRE (the ASia Precision Medicine Initiative for Reimbursement & Evidence) is a regional community of practice for institutions and individuals working on precision medicine reimbursement and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Asia.

We bring together HTA agencies, clinicians, academics, patient representatives, industry stakeholders and technical experts to support shared learning on how precision medicine can be assessed, financed and made available in sustainable ways.

ASPIRE is initiated by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation (HITAP) and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore (SSHSPH NUS).

Our Mission

ASPIRE aims to support countries in Asia as they consider how to assess and reimburse precision medicine in ways that are evidence-informed, equitable and sustainable.

Precision medicine is advancing quickly, and the systems needed to assess and reimburse it, including genomic data infrastructure and evidence standards, are still being built across the region. ASPIRE offers a timely opportunity for countries to learn from one another while these systems are taking shape, rather than after national approaches have already diverged.

Through peer learning, technical exchange, and shared resources, ASPIRE helps members learn from each other’s experience, reduce duplication of effort, and identify areas where collaboration can strengthen policy and practice.

The community is designed as a two-way exchange. Members contribute their own experience, priorities and technical expertise, and help shape ASPIRE’s agenda over time.

ASPIRE is in its early stages. Its structure and activities are intended to evolve based on members' priorities and experience, rather than being fixed in advance.

Our History

HITAP, SSHSPH NUS, and other institutions have started a program of work on precision medicine assessment and reimbursement under the Precision HeAlth Transformative Technology Assessment Initiative (PHAT-TAI) starting in 2021.

Since then, this group has worked to understand how health systems in Asia can assess, finance, and support access to precision medicine. This work has included regional dialogue, technical collaboration and the development of practical tools, including PICCOTEAM.

ASPIRE was convened as the next step in this work, following the Workshop on Paying for Precision Medicine Sustainably in Asia, held in Khao Yai, Thailand, from 2 to 4 June 2026, to sustain the relationships and momentum generated by the workshop, and to provide a practical platform for continued collaboration.

PHAT TAI programme timeline

Publications

ASPIRE builds on a growing body of work by PHAT-TAI and its regional collaborators.

Recent outputs include a regional workshop report on reimbursement barriers and enablers for precision medicine in Asia, published in 2026. The report draws on discussions from the workshop and sets out country experiences, shared reimbursement challenges, the PICCOTEAM framework and proposed next steps for regional collaboration.

The group has also published peer-reviewed work on the economic evaluation of precision medicine. This includes the PICCOTEAM reference case, which provides methodological guidance for early and conventional economic evaluations of precision medicine, and related work on stakeholder engagement and implementation.

These publications provide the evidence base for ASPIRE’s activities and help inform its agenda for peer learning, shared tools and future collaboration.

Link to publications

• Cost-effectiveness of cascade testing for familial hypercholesterolemia in Thailand: A comparative analysis of genome sequencing methods across development stages.
• Evaluating the value for money of precision medicine from early cycle to market access: A comprehensive review of approaches and challenges. Value in Health, 26(9), 1425–1434.
• Mapping the value for money of precision medicine: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1151504.
• Development of the PICCOTEAM reference case for economic evaluation of precision medicine. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 14, 8756.
• Workshop on Paying for Precision Medicine Sustainably in Asia: Reimbursement Barriers, Enablers, and Implications for HTA.
• Refining a precision medicine economic evaluation framework: Insights from a multi-stakeholder consultative workshop
• PICCOTEAM Working Group. (n.d.). PICCOTEAM checklist.
• The value for money of artificial intelligence-empowered precision medicine: A systematic review and regression analysis. npj Digital Medicine, 9, 78.

How to Join

If you're working on precision medicine reimbursement, HTA, or related policy questions, we'd like to hear from you. Participation in ASPIRE is voluntary and open, to institutions and individuals alike.

At this stage, there is no formal application process or membership criteria. Institutions and individuals with an interest in precision medicine reimbursement, HTA, evidence generation or related policy questions are welcome to join this community of practice.

Members may take part in webinars, contribute country materials or tools, share evidence and experience, propose topics for discussion, or support collaborative activities. Technical experts with relevant technical or funding expertise may also contribute to specific activities.

ASPIRE’s shared materials are hosted through the Guide to Health Economic Analysis and Research (GEAR), which serves as the community’s central knowledge platform.

Contact Us

To express your interest in joining the community, please click the following link: Join the Community

We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you into the ASPIRE community!