Pharmacogenomics for Improved Patient Outcomes in the UK

This report by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Pharmacological Society advocates for the wider adoption of pharmacogenomics in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) to improve patient outcomes. Pharmacogenomics uses an individual's genetic information to predict their response to medications, enabling personalized prescribing for optimal drug selection and dosage. The report identifies barriers to implementation, such as limited research, high testing costs, lack of training for healthcare professionals, and insufficient integration into electronic healthcare systems. It provides recommendations for overcoming these challenges through research, education, NHS leadership engagement, funding, and ethical considerations, ultimately aiming to make pharmacogenomic-based prescribing a reality for all NHS patients.