Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3084464/hong-kong-lays-out-blueprint-future-genomic
Hong Kong/ Health & Environment

Hong Kong lays out blueprint for future of genomic medicine

  • Steering committee gives eight recommendations on way forward for field that is becoming a critical aspect of health care
  • It calls for better supervision of tests and says people should not be required to submit test results to insurers to obtain coverage
According to the steering committee’s report, the Hong Kong Genome Project will begin recruiting people in the middle of next year to help build up a database of genome sequences. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong’s first blueprint for developing genomic medicine has called for better regulation of how genetic information is used and tests are handled, especially ones people carry out themselves and can wrongly interpret.

The report – which the government released on Thursday – laid out eight ways the city can speed up the development of the field, which has become increasingly important in determining susceptibility to disease and identifying treatment options for those with uncommon disorders.