Only About 90 Genetic Counselors in Taiwan; Medical Community and Patient Groups Urge Integration into Healthcare System
With the growing popularity of genetic testing, medical and patient advocacy groups in Taiwan are calling for the formal integration of genetic counselors into the national healthcare system. They warn that the current number of approximately 90 professionals is insufficient to meet the rising demand.
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(CNA, Taipei, 16th) With the increasing popularity of genetic testing, from prenatal checks and child development assessments to cancer risk and rare diseases, groups including the Taiwan Genetic Counseling Society advocated today that with only about 90 professional genetic counselors in all of Taiwan, they should be integrated into the healthcare system, otherwise, it may be difficult to support the related demand.
The Taiwan Genetic Counseling Society, the Rare Disease Foundation, and the Taiwan Society of Human Genetics held an advocacy event today, inviting participation from 14 medical centers with genetic counseling centers across Taiwan, patient advocacy groups, and experts and scholars.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi attended and delivered a speech, mentioning that she had studied genetic counseling at National Taiwan University in 2004 and understood that it is an important profession. In the future, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will strengthen promotion to make the public more aware of genetic counseling. The National Health Administration will also plan related subsidies, system guarantees, or incentive methods to give more support to genetic counselors in various medical institutions and enhance their protection.
In a media interview after the event, she stated that during her time as a legislator, she had long discussed this with the society, but legislation involves a very wide range of aspects, including academic certification, professional conditions, and the competitive relationship with the scope of practice of current medical personnel, which still require careful deliberation.
Citing the example of about 100,000 newborns in Taiwan per year, Lin Ching-yi explained that there are only 86 genetic counselors currently certified by the society. If practice qualifications were restricted, it could cause difficulties in service delivery, and people might not be able to schedule a consultation until their pregnancy is too advanced.
She suggested that people in need of genetic counseling can go to the 14 genetic counseling centers certified by the National Health Administration. These centers are composed of interdisciplinary experts, covering professions such as pediatrics, obstetrics, neurology, and hematology-oncology, and can provide the public with guaranteed medical services.
Chien Chun-ching, President of the Taiwan Genetic Counseling Society, explained that a "genetic counselor" is not a physician. They used to be called physician assistants and were mostly trained through apprenticeships. After long-term efforts, they have now moved towards a school-based system, a dual-society certification system, and also have continuing education courses.
Chien Chun-ching pointed out that in addition to rare disease diagnosis and cancer gene assessment, prenatal screening, newborn screening, child development assessment, adult cancer risk assessment, and family genetic risk counseling may all require genetic counseling services to help understand the genetic source, assess risks, provide support, and clarify choices. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150516
The Taiwan Genetic Counseling Society, the Rare Disease Foundation, and the Taiwan Society of Human Genetics held an advocacy event today, inviting participation from 14 medical centers with genetic counseling centers across Taiwan, patient advocacy groups, and experts and scholars.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi attended and delivered a speech, mentioning that she had studied genetic counseling at National Taiwan University in 2004 and understood that it is an important profession. In the future, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will strengthen promotion to make the public more aware of genetic counseling. The National Health Administration will also plan related subsidies, system guarantees, or incentive methods to give more support to genetic counselors in various medical institutions and enhance their protection.
In a media interview after the event, she stated that during her time as a legislator, she had long discussed this with the society, but legislation involves a very wide range of aspects, including academic certification, professional conditions, and the competitive relationship with the scope of practice of current medical personnel, which still require careful deliberation.
Citing the example of about 100,000 newborns in Taiwan per year, Lin Ching-yi explained that there are only 86 genetic counselors currently certified by the society. If practice qualifications were restricted, it could cause difficulties in service delivery, and people might not be able to schedule a consultation until their pregnancy is too advanced.
She suggested that people in need of genetic counseling can go to the 14 genetic counseling centers certified by the National Health Administration. These centers are composed of interdisciplinary experts, covering professions such as pediatrics, obstetrics, neurology, and hematology-oncology, and can provide the public with guaranteed medical services.
Chien Chun-ching, President of the Taiwan Genetic Counseling Society, explained that a "genetic counselor" is not a physician. They used to be called physician assistants and were mostly trained through apprenticeships. After long-term efforts, they have now moved towards a school-based system, a dual-society certification system, and also have continuing education courses.
Chien Chun-ching pointed out that in addition to rare disease diagnosis and cancer gene assessment, prenatal screening, newborn screening, child development assessment, adult cancer risk assessment, and family genetic risk counseling may all require genetic counseling services to help understand the genetic source, assess risks, provide support, and clarify choices. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150516