Purificación Marín Reina
Consultant Paediatrician, head of the Dysmorphology and Reproductive Counselling Clinic at the Neonatology Department of the University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe
Unlike the rest of the European Union countries, Spain lacks recognition of the speciality of Genetics. The needs and conditions of our population are, obviously, similar to those of our neighbours and, at present, are attended to by different health specialists, without the backing of a nationally regulated training programme. The creation of a speciality in Genetics is the way towards the reduction of the diagnostic odyssey of patients with rare diseases, the optimisation of personalised medicine, appropriate genetic counselling and progress in research. Genetics is a growing science, with implications in most fields of health. Our country deserves a network of organised, equitable and standardised services similar to other areas.