This week, our Health Minister Alan Milburn, announced a five-year plan for genetics services in the UK. And it's not just a case of good intentions. The treasury has backed the government's public support for genetics by providing a cool £40 million for more consultants, more scientists, more counsellors and four new 'genetics parks'.
Coming up to a general election, some might consider the announcement to be a political gamble for Labour. After all, genetics isn't usually considered to be high on the list of vote-winning issues. But rather than talking of blue-sky research and the 'book of life', Milburn was careful to focus his attention upon real services in the National Health Service (NHS) which can make a real difference to the electorate in the short-term.
For, whilst the sums of money involved are by no means trifling, the services talked about by Alan Milburn are, in some ways, rather modest. The new funds will expand and extend current services, providing more medical, scientific and counselling care. The services in question are not scary or even particularly new. They are about getting existing care and medical technologies to the people who can most benefit from them.
Although the government clearly wishes to show itself to be unequivocally opposed to some applications of genetic science, it is almost a shame that cloning and insurance had to be mentioned. For it was these statements, rather than the new funding for genetics services, that caught the imagination of many journalists and broadcasters. Talk of bans suggests a pressing need for them, rather than a desire to prevent possible future abuses.
Political announcements, particularly those with new treasury expenditure attached, are often accompanied by much razzmatazz. But, as Milburn said of the announcement, 'There's going to be no big bang when it comes to advances in genetics. It's more likely that we will see a slow burn.' Bring on the slow burn
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