Potential of genomic medicine could be lost

Potential of genomic medicine could be lost


The NHS needs a new body for evaluating diagnostic tests if it is to make the most of advances in genomic medicine. The absence of such a system means that hospitals and GPs may waste money on new tests that do not have clear benefits for patients. The recommendation comes in response to a House of Lords inquiry into genomic medicine published last summer, which found that the NHS was not ready to take advantage of genetic advances in healthcare. The falling costs of reading DNA mean that it is likely to be possible to sequence any person’s entire genome for less than £1,000 within a year or two. Scientists have also started to identify how variations in DNA affect responses to drugs or susceptibility to disease, raising the prospect of personalised medicine based on individuals’ genetic profiles. Doctors could potentially use genetic information to select the best drugs for treating particular patients, or to calibrate doses of medicines with potentially dangerous side-effects. Caroline Wright, head of science at the PHG Foundation, said: “Knowledge is power. When public money is being spent, it must be spent sensibly to get better care outcomes. It’s really important that anything funded by health systems has evidence behind it.”

Source: Retrieved May 17, 2010
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/genetics/article7128357.ece

My reaction:

To my opinion every potential improvement of medicine created to better the patient in every way is something I approve of 100 percent. Having lived my life until now I know how important it is to have doctors who know what they are doing. I think that if doctors would have the possibility to check which drugs are compatible with your DNA making sure the risk of side effects stay minimal then the outcome could only be considered positive. Like Caroline Wright already stated: “Knowledge is power.”