Genomics in Scotland strategy: island communities impact assessment

Policy Objectives

Our vision is to establish an equitable, person-centred, and rights-based genomic medicine service to improve health outcomes for people in Scotland and better enable us to use genomic information to support disease prevention and early detection. The strategy aims to improve access to genomic testing and build strong foundations, including data and digital infrastructure and workforce, to allow Scotland to take full advantage of developments in genomic medicine.

The initial one-year implementation plan will focus on the foundational and preparatory work needed, in collaboration with stakeholders across Scotland, to ensure that investment and partnership working is targeted for maximum impact as part of the ongoing recovery and renewal of our health services. This will take place in alignment with an ongoing transformation programme across Scotland’s genomic laboratories. Strategy implementation will thereafter be on the development of new approaches and systems to support genomic medicine in Scotland, taking advantage of innovation and digital opportunities to expand genomic testing and facilitate the use of genomic information across our healthcare system.

Throughout the term of the current strategy there will be a focus on rare and inherited conditions and on cancer. These represent the areas of most acute need in Scotland. However, as genomic information is ‘mainstreamed’ and applied to other clinical specialisms then the impact of infrastructure, service and workforce transformation carried out under the lifetime of this strategy will impact on the wider healthcare system and those who interact with it. As we work towards the integration of genomic medicine across our healthcare and digital ecosystem, we will also seek to demonstrate the impact of genomics on health outcomes and overall health service reform.