Development of Genetic Counseling Services in Taiwan

Taiwan is an emerging industrial country in subtropical Asia with a population of 23 million. There were around 200,000 newborns in 2011. Delayed first marriage, low birth rate, and rapid aging are major demographic issues. Genetic counseling services were established following the rapid introductio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of genetic counseling 2013-12, Vol.22 (6), p.839-843
Main Authors: Chien, Shu, Su, Pen-Hua, Chen, Suh-Jen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Clinical Psychology
Ethics
Female
Genetic counseling
Genetic Counseling - organization & administration
Genetic counseling service
Genetic Counseling: A Global Perspective
Genetic Health Act
Gynecology
Human Genetics
Humans
National Health Insurance
Pregnancy
Program Development
Public Health
Taiwan
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Taiwan is an emerging industrial country in subtropical Asia with a population of 23 million. There were around 200,000 newborns in 2011. Delayed first marriage, low birth rate, and rapid aging are major demographic issues. Genetic counseling services were established following the rapid introduction of genetic technology and enactment of relevant laws and regulations. Ultrasound was first used in 1968 to examine pregnant women. The first amniotic fluid laboratory was founded in 1981 to identify chromosomal abnormalities. In 1984, the Genetic Health Act was legislated for prevention and control of genetic disorders, and the metabolic disorder screen project was launched. National Health Insurance with overall coverage of prenatal examinations was established in 1995. A master-level genetic counseling program was launched in 2003 and by 2011 has graduated eighty students. Two professional societies have been formed to certify genetic counselors, and 66 professionals have been certified. In summary, genetic counseling services in Taiwan are continuously improving.
ISSN:1059-7700
1573-3599
DOI:10.1007/s10897-013-9586-2