The Human Genetics Program of the World Health Organization (WHO) has analyzed the needs for genetic services worldwide and the promotion of genetic approaches for the prevention of diseases linked to primary health care. This article presents a summary of the most important initiatives of the WHO in this field, which have served as a background for the Consultation in Medical Genetics in Latin America, which took place in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in June 19, 2003, and whose working reports are published in this special issue of Community Genetics.

Keywords:
Developing countries, Genetics services, Medical genetics, Primary health care
1.
WHO: Services for the Prevention and Management of Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects in Developing Countries. Report of a joint WHO/WAOPBD meeting, The Hague, 1999. WHO/HGN/GL/WAOPBD/99.1.
2.
WHO: Primary health care approaches for prevention and control of congenital and genetic disorders. Report of a WHO meeting, Cairo, 2000. WHO/HGN/WG/00.1.
3.
WHO: Genomics and World Health. Report of the Advisory Committee on Health Research. Geneva, WHO, 2002.
4.
WHO: Collaboration in Medical Genetics. Report of a WHO meeting, Toronto, 2002. WHO/HGN/WG/02.2.
5.
WHO: Community genetic services in Latin America and regional networks on medical genetics. Report of a WHO Consultation, Porto Alegre, 2003. WHO/HGN/WG/04.01.
© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
2004
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