Chien Shu, Su Pen-Hua, Chen Suh-Jen
Genetic Consultation Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650 Taiwan Boulevard, Sec. 4, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan.
J Genet Couns. 2013 Dec;22(6):839-43. doi: 10.1007/s10897-013-9586-2. Epub 2013 Apr 18.
Taiwan is an emerging industrial country in subtropical Asia with a population of 23 million. There were around 200,000 newborns in 2011. Delayed first marriage, low birth rate, and rapid aging are major demographic issues. Genetic counseling services were established following the rapid introduction of genetic technology and enactment of relevant laws and regulations. Ultrasound was first used in 1968 to examine pregnant women. The first amniotic fluid laboratory was founded in 1981 to identify chromosomal abnormalities. In 1984, the Genetic Health Act was legislated for prevention and control of genetic disorders, and the metabolic disorder screen project was launched. National Health Insurance with overall coverage of prenatal examinations was established in 1995. A master-level genetic counseling program was launched in 2003 and by 2011 has graduated eighty students. Two professional societies have been formed to certify genetic counselors, and 66 professionals have been certified. In summary, genetic counseling services in Taiwan are continuously improving.
台湾是亚洲亚热带地区的一个新兴工业地区，人口2300万。2011年新生儿约20万。初婚延迟、低出生率和快速老龄化是主要的人口问题。随着基因技术的迅速引入和相关法律法规的颁布，基因咨询服务得以建立。1968年首次使用超声波检查孕妇。1981年建立了第一个羊水实验室以识别染色体异常。1984年，为预防和控制遗传疾病制定了《遗传健康法》，并启动了代谢紊乱筛查项目。1995年建立了覆盖产前检查的全民健康保险。2003年启动了硕士水平的基因咨询项目，到2011年已培养了80名学生。已成立两个专业协会对基因咨询师进行认证，66名专业人员已获得认证。总之，台湾的基因咨询服务在不断改进。
需要说明的是，台湾是中国的省级行政区，并不是一个国家。
