Genomics in Scotland strategy: island communities impact assessment

Background

Genomic medicine is a rapidly developing discipline that uses genetic information (the instructions within our cells that shape a person’s health, growth and development) to diagnose disease, guide the use of different treatments or predict the risk of disease. From a relatively niche specialism genomic medicine is now ‘mainstreaming’ with genomic information used to support diagnosis, treatment, and screening across a growing range of clinical specialisms with cancer care as the biggest area of growth.

In March 2023 the Scottish Government published a strategic intent document which outlined its commitment to the development of a robust national genomic medicine service. Genomics in Scotland: Building our Future is Scotland’s first genomic medicine strategy and complements Scotland’s first Pathogen Genomic Strategy published by Public Health Scotland. This is a five-year strategy which will be underpinned by consecutive implementation plans setting out the core actions across the strategy term. The first of these, for the year 2024-25, is published alongside the strategy.