Medical genetics in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region: challenges and opportunities

Thong, Meow Keong and See-Toh, Yiling and Hassan, Jamiyah and Syed Mohamed Ali, Jaffar (2018) Medical genetics in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region: challenges and opportunities. Genetics in Medicine, 20 (10). pp. 1114-1121. ISSN 1098-3600 E-ISSN 1530-0366

	PDF (Evidence from website for MYRA) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (389kB) | Request a copy
	PDF (Scopus) - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Download (784kB) | Request a copy
Preview	PDF Download (378kB) | Preview

Abstract

Advances in genetic and genomic technology changed health-care services rapidly in low and middle income countries (LMICs) in the Asia-Pacific region. While genetic services were initially focused on population-based disease prevention strategies, they have evolved into clinic-based and therapeutics-oriented service. Many LMICs struggled with these noncommunicable diseases and were unprepared for the needs of a clinical genetic service. The emergence of a middle class population, the lack of regulatory oversight, and weak capacity-building in medical genetics expertise and genetic counseling services led to a range of genetic services of variable quality with minimal ethical oversight. Some of the current shortcomings faced include the lack of awareness of cultural values in genetic health care, the variable stages of socioeconomic development and educational background that led to increased demand and abuse of genetics, the role of women in society and the crisis of gender selection, the lack of preventive and care services for genetic and birth defects, the issues of gene ethics in medicine, and the lack of understanding of some religious controversies. These challenges provide opportunities for both developing and developed nations to work together to reduce the inequalities and to ensure a caring, inclusive, ethical, and cost-effective genetic service in the region.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	4262/69084
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Asia-Pacific; challenges; developing countries; medical genetics services; opportunities
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD72 Economic growth, development, planning Q Science > Q Science (General) R Medicine > RB Pathology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Science Kulliyyah of Science > Department of Biomedical Science
Depositing User:	Dr Mohamed Ali Jaffar Syed
Date Deposited:	31 Dec 2018 09:27
Last Modified:	15 Jul 2019 09:58
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/69084

Actions (login required)

View Item