Enjoying better health with gene screening

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: "Early warning systems" like molecular screening will allow people to better manage their health.
Molecular screening is an examination of a person's genetic makeup to establish his or her genetic predisposition to certain diseases like cancer, hypertension, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, however, said that neither molecular technology nor biotechnology promised immortality.
"Healthy people are the greatest asset of any nation and molecular screening promises better management of health risk," he said in his speech read by Health Ministry Disease Control director Datuk Dr Hassan Abdul Rahman at the launch of the National INFOHaem Molecular Screening Services 2008, organised by the Malaysian Liver Foundation and Infovalley Group of Companies yesterday.
Present were Dr James Mackay, a consultant in clinical genetic oncology from University College London, and iGENE Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Dr Suresh A. Chandran.
Dr Suresh said the public should start perceiving health care as preventive medicine instead of being a sick-care sector.
He said when related molecular indicators were detected early, potentially life-saving medical management could be implemented.
"This will lead to specific interventions aimed at reducing risks, including adjustments for nutrition, lifestyle and environment."
A recent study, he said, had shown that changing one's lifestyle could switch on good genes and reverse damage at the genetic level.