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Genetic counseling training in the Philippines.
Mercy Ygona Laurino1, Carmencita David Padilla
1Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila - Philippine General Hospital, 625 Pedro Gil Street, Ermita, Manila, 1000, Philippines, mylaurino@post.upm.edu.ph.
Journal of Genetic Counseling
|April 5, 2013
Summary
The Philippines established a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program to address a critical shortage of geneticists. This initiative aims to train healthcare professionals and expand genetic services in the country.
Area of Science:
- Medical Genetics
- Public Health
- Healthcare Education
Background:
- The Philippines faces a severe shortage of clinical geneticists, with a ratio of 1:11,750,000.
- There is a growing demand for genetic counseling services from patients and healthcare providers.
- Existing healthcare infrastructure requires specialized professionals to form effective medical genetics teams.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and implement a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC) program in the Philippines.
- To train healthcare providers to meet the increasing demand for genetic counseling services.
- To provide a model for establishing similar programs in low- and middle-income countries.
Main Methods:
- Development and approval of a comprehensive MSGC curriculum.
- Establishment of the program within the Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.
- Focus on overcoming challenges related to program implementation in a resource-limited setting.
Main Results:
- Successful establishment of the MSGC program in 2011.
- Training of healthcare providers to become essential members of medical genetics teams.
- Laying the groundwork for expanding genetic counseling services nationwide.
Conclusions:
- The MSGC program is crucial for advancing genetic counseling services in the Philippines.
- The program's development offers valuable insights for other low- and middle-income countries.
- Investing in specialized genetic counseling education is vital for improving population health outcomes.
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