The Australian Medical Association welcomes the ban on insurers using genetic test results to deny coverage to people identified with genetic risks.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson congratulated the Australian Government on its announcement that insurers would not be able to discriminate against people by using their genetic testing results to refuse cover because they find a likelihood of an inherited disease.
"Genetic testing and genomic research have the capacity to rapidly transform health care in Australia by identifying a need for potentially life-saving treatment," Professor Robson said.
"But consumers have been discouraged from participating out of fear of being frozen out of insurance cover if a genetic risk is uncovered," he said.
"Fixing this unacceptable situation is an enormous step forward for health care in this country.
"A situation where there has been a huge financial penalty for having potentially life-saving medical testing has now been corrected.
"Having a legislated ban on the use of genetic test results is the only way to ensure Australians feel safe and confident their genetic results won't result in discrimination.
"This is fantastic news for Australians and their health system. The AMA is delighted that the Government has introduced this ban."
