[The lag of genetic counseling in Mexico]

Genetic counseling is the process of advising indivduals, partners and families affected by or at risk of genetic disorders to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, social, family and reproductive implications of a genetic condition. Given the expansion of precision medicine and the recent increase in the use of molecular diagnostic tests, it is necessary to have duly certified personnel in our environment to perform it. In Mexico, unlike other countries, the figure of the genetic counselor is not formally recognized, which is why geneticists doctors give this advice within the healthcare context (as part of the outpatient consultation). The number of these health professionals is below the internationally proposed requirement standard of one medical geneticist per 100,000 inhabitants, which is only met in Mexico City, making it of utmost importance to increase the training of medical geneticists as well such as the inclusion of these in the different health institutions of the country.