NHS Scotland: first genomic medicine strategy launches | National Health Executive

The Scottish Government has launched the country’s first ever genomic medicine strategy as health leaders look to the cutting-edge of care to transform diagnosis and patient outcomes.

The five-year plan will coordinate the approach to genomics across Scotland, first focusing on cancer, rare conditions, and inherited conditions.

The Strategic Network for Genomic Medicine has already been working to join-up the genomics communities across Scotland and has been building on expertise from partnerships with:

• NHS
• Academia
• Industry
• Third sector
• Public

Overall, the goal of the strategy is to give patients timely access to the right test at the right time, so they get treated faster; improve clinical pathways, so patients benefit from better experiences and more joined-up services; and help staff with their training, career path, and development opportunities.

Scottish health secretary, Neil Gray, said: “This new strategy marks the first step towards developing a world class genomic medicine service in Scotland that is agile enough to grasp the opportunities presented by this exciting and fast-growing discipline.

“Embracing new technology is a major part of our plans to reform and recover Scotland’s NHS and a coordinated approach to this innovation will improve the care provided by our health service.”

National Health Executive is set to host an online conference where genomics will be discussed later this year, when healthcare leaders from across the sector will come together. The life sciences conference will also investigate clinical trials, pathology, patient safety, and digital technologies.

Neil added: “Genomic technology is key to that because it will help with the transition to more efficient ways of delivering services, including deployment of staff, skills and equipment.

“Most importantly, it will support better diagnosis and access to the right treatment by ensuring access to the right tests at the right time. That will ultimately mean people having better outcomes.”

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