Genetic testing between private and public interests: ethical and legal implications

In Europe there is a wide variety of genetic tests that various private companies offer to patients or consumers. As a result, more and more people have become curious about their genetic predisposition and susceptibility. However, most public health care systems are not adequately prepared for responding to the results of these genetic tests as quite often there is no available therapy for the identified genetic condition. This discrepancy between the newly emerging expectations and the insufficient responses contributes to a further rift between the public and private sectors of health care. Individual genetic test results may also trigger the need for personalized medicine and may open up a competition between the two fields in offering further genetic tests and medical exams. In this context, how should the public health system deal with the challenges of the private testing? Will private genetic testing transform health care from a solidarity-based health care to a risk specific health care?