Pharmacogenomic testing Enhancing personalized medication use for patients

Pharmacogenomics, the determination of the genomic predisposition to a certain response to medication, is a key component in understanding how to use medication in a safer and more effective manner. Pharmacogenomic testing allows for the detection of genomic factors linked to differences in drug response before treatment, ensuring that the benefit of a medication is maximized without the unintended consequences of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Increasing accessibility to pharmacogenomic tests means better profiling risks of therapy before therapy begins and provides the potential to drastically affect the use of medication by making it safer, more effective, and personalized. It is an ethical responsibility for all of us - clinicians, hospital administrators, and policy makers - to provide access to this service to all Canadian families to help prevent serious ADRs when battling diseases and illnesses that require medication.