Britain earmarks £50 million for NHS genetics

'Genetics offers prediction of risk, more precise diagnosis, more targeted and effective use of existing drugs, new gene-based drugs and therapies, and prevention and treatment regimes tailored to an individual's genetic profile.'

Photo: Britain earmarks £50 million for NHS genetics

A ‘Genetics Strategy for the NHS - ‘Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the Potential of Genetics in the NHS’, presented to Parliament in late June by John Reid, Secretary of State for Health, aims to set out a vision of how patients could benefit from future advances in genetics, and raise awareness of the potential of genetics in healthcare.

The ‘White Paper’ sets out a comprehensive plan to prepare the NHS, and includes an investment of £50 million over the next three years towards this initiative, by 
 Substantially upgrading genetics laboratories, and boosting the genetics workforce: more genetics counsellors, consultants and laboratory scientists
 Spending over £7 million on new initiatives to introduce genetics-based healthcare into the mainstream of the National Health Service
 Setting up a new Genetics Education and Development Centre to spearhead education and training in genetics for all healthcare staff
 Funding a new research programmes in pharmacogenetics, gene therapy and health services research to help turn the science into real patient benefit.

Safeguards and controls against inappropriate or unsafe use of genetics developments are also set out. In addition to existing controls on gene therapy and use of genetic test results by insurers, new legislation is planned, to ban DNA theft: it will become an offence to test someone’s DNA without their consent except for medical or police purposes.

The Government said it recognises the importance of openness and public debate, and will continue to respond to new developments and shifts in public attitudes

01.07.2003

More on the subject:

Related articles

Photo

News • Pharmaceutical counterfeiting

New chemical approach to combat illegal medicines

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting remains a critical issue, with high risks for patients and great economical damage. Now, researchers propose using “chemical fingerprints” to identify illegal meds.

Photo

News • Goodbye to the needle

Replace injections with pills? New technology could make it happen

Some medications can only be taken as an injection, which is often painful, unpleasant and inconvenient for patients. A new transport system could make it possible to swap these injections for pills.

Photo

News • Weakened defenses

Antibiotics are not the only meds disrupting the gut microbiome

Antibiotics are known for disrupting the microbiome in the gut and thus paving the way for diseases. However, many common non-antibiotics also have this effect, a new study shows.

Subscribe to Newsletter