Current Challenges to Appropriate Clinical Use of New Genetic Knowledge in Different Countries

Objective: To describe the challenges facing countries all over the world regarding the appropriate clinical use of genetics in their health care systems. Methods and Results: Aspects of the economic and social contexts in different countries which are of particular relevance to shaping the existing challenges are outlined. Issues which are relevant (but of different prominence) in all countries in providing genetic services are discussed. Conclusions: The challenges facing the provision of appropriate genetic services differ markedly in four major groups of countries. These challenges range from controlling inappropriate commercialization and the overuse of genetic approaches to putting in place even minimal basic community genetics services in countries where the infant mortality rate has fallen to a range where genetic and congenital disorders contribute substantially to ongoing handicap and early mortality. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel