Establishment of the genetic counselor profession in Ukraine: Present challenges and prospective pathways

The profession of genetic counselor remains underdeveloped and unregulated in Ukraine, despite growing demand for genetics-related healthcare services and expanding access to genetic testing. In the absence of formally trained genetic counselors, core professional functions-including risk communication, psychosocial support, and patient education-are delivered inconsistently or assumed by medical geneticists and other healthcare providers. The current landscape of genetic services in Ukraine is examined through the lens of the genetic counseling profession, highlighting key challenges, including limited access to genetic services, excessive workloads among medical geneticists that compromise the quality of counseling, and a lack of formal professional recognition for genetic counselors. Existing educational opportunities and emerging initiatives aimed at developing genetic counseling training in Ukraine are briefly reviewed. Finally, the professional context for integrating genetic counselors into the healthcare system is outlined, and the priority areas requiring further development to support effective integration and patient-centered genetic care are summarized.