Bupa funds pharmacogenomic tests for customers, with results to be sent to GPs
Bupa's clinical innovation and genomics director, a GP, says interpreting the test results is easy.
A private health insurer is offering free pharmacogenomic tests to thousands of customers, which it says will warn patients and their GPs about medicines that may be ineffective.
The first 10,000 Bupa members to apply before 30 November will receive free tests from genomics company myDNA, relating to 11 genes and 100 medicines, including those for psychiatric, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal conditions.
It follows a decision by rival health insurer Medibank to partly cover the cost of the tests, which otherwise cost $198.
The Bupa customers will receive an at-home swab to perform and send to myDNA’s lab, then nominate a GP to receive the results, which the customer can only see after consulting the GP.
