BEIJING — A committee of experts has been established by the National Health Commission (NHC) Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center in Beijing for improving China’s capacity of genetic counseling.

It aims at dealing with birth defects in a positive manner and setting up an authoritative, scientific and normative national professional standard for genetic counselors, which will be completed by the end of the year.

The committee consists of 43 authoritative experts from 24 provincial-level regions across the country. According to the NHC, there is still a severe shortage of genetic counselors in China.

Experts believe strengthening the country’s capacity of genetic counseling meets the urgent demand of adjusting and improving birth policies and is a practical approach to further carry out the Healthy China initiative.