Healthy patients will be able to pay to have their DNA analysed under controversial plans

Healthy patients will be able to pay to have their DNA analysed under controversial plans which could predict the risk of cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s

  • NHS is set to compete in market for gene sequencing for a few hundred pounds
  • DNA testing aims to predict the risk of cancer, dementia and other diseases 
  • Government to allow paying customers to have genes mapped within a year
  • Questions asked over whether NHS will be able to hold sensitive data securely 

Healthy patients will be able to pay to have their DNA analysed under an NHS scheme.

The Health Service is set to compete in the growing market for genome sequencing for a few hundred pounds.

DNA testing aims to predict the risk of cancer, dementia and other diseases by assessing whether an individual is genetically predisposed to them.

The service is offered to seriously ill patients for free but the Government wants to allow paying customers to have their genes mapped within a year.

DNA testing aims to predict the risk of cancer, dementia and other diseases by assessing whether an individual is genetically predisposed to them

After submitting a DNA sample, applicants will be given a health report based on their genes. 

They will have to share the data with researchers – giving scientists more information to use when studying diseases.

There will be questions though as to whether the NHS can be trusted to hold such sensitive data securely after a number of previous scandals including a scrapped plan to share GP records with private firms.

Doctors have also expressed concern about becoming overwhelmed by healthy patients who are concerned with what their DNA report says.

Matthew Hancock, the Health Secretary, told The Times: ‘Genomics has the potential to transform healthcare.

‘While healthy people should not have this service free on the NHS there are a huge benefits to sequencing as many genomes as we can.’

Doctors have also expressed concern about becoming overwhelmed by healthy patients who are concerned with what their DNA report says

Doctors have also expressed concern about becoming overwhelmed by healthy patients who are concerned with what their DNA report says

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