Progress and Perspectives of Genetic Diagnosis in Panama

Abstract

Genetic diagnosis in the field of medical genetics, which dates back to the pioneering efforts of Dr. John R. Ward, has experienced remarkable progress in Panama in recent years due to an increase in installed capacity, the number of specialized Panamanian professionals, and the development of all aspects related to this topic within institutions such as the Social Security Fund, the Children's Hospital, the Gorgas Institute, and the INDICASAT Institute, among others. Similarly, there has been an increase in private provision and industry support. The prospects for growth go hand in hand with the growing need for medical evaluation by geneticists, genetic diagnosis as part of the daily medical management of all specialties, and the short-term advent of personalized or precision medicine.