Plan to sell DNA tests to healthy people ‘breaches core principle of the NHS’

The new chargeable test, which is to be made available through the NHS, will provide a personalised health report, revealing the risk of diseases such as cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

However, although it is not clear how much the NHS intends to charge for the test, critics say it would benefit wealthy people more than those who can’t afford it, creating a ‘two-tier health service’, and leaving those who can’t afford it until they are diagnosed with a serious illness before receiving medical help.

The new NHS test will examine a person’s DNA and potentially diagnose whether they are at risk of developing dementia or cancer and enable them to take action to prevent it.

Those found to be at risk could receive preventative treatment or additional screening, which would not be available for those unable to afford the first test.

Backers say the service will be ‘world-leading’.

Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, voiced his concerns, saying “It will create two-tier access to services, where people who can pay are able to access services that are denied to those who cannot.”

Matt Hancock, health and social care secretary, said the plan could potentially save lives and in catching illnesses early, relieve pressure on the NHS.

He said “Healthy people who have their genome sequenced can find problems that they didn’t know existed.

“That allows for them to change behaviour, have preventative treatment or take other actions that can reduce the long-term pressure.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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