Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Oncology represents a major public health and economic challenge in Portugal. While In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) tests are critical across the cancer care continuum, their broader clinical, social, and economic worth remains under-explored. This study assesses the comprehensive value of four oncology IVD testing strategies using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework.
METHODS: A multi-case SROI analysis was conducted in Portugal, evaluating: (i) BRCA1/2 testing in breast cancer, (ii) AI-assisted histological diagnosis in prostate cancer, (iii) Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in lung cancer, and (iv) AI-based risk stratification in colorectal cancer screening. Adopting a multi-stakeholder perspective (patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, healthcare systems, and society), outcomes were mapped, monetized, and adjusted for impact using a consistently conservative approach to calculate SROI ratios through standard framework.
RESULTS: All case studies demonstrated positive social returns. The highest return was observed for BRCA1/2 testing (€11.3 per euro invested), followed by AI-assisted prostate biopsy analysis (€10.4), AI-based colorectal cancer screening (€5.7), and NGS in lung cancer (€5.4). Key value drivers across cases included improved survival and quality of life, increased diagnostic accuracy, earlier detection, reduced time-to-diagnosis, and optimized healthcare resource utilization. Societal benefits, particularly through productivity gains, represented a substantial share of the total impact.
CONCLUSIONS: Oncology IVD strategies generate substantial value extending far beyond traditional clinical metrics, delivering significant returns for patients, health systems, and society. These findings support a shift toward value-based investment in diagnostic innovation and underscore the importance of integrating broader societal perspectives into health technology assessment and decision-making.