'We want people to be on the right medication and the right dose'
More than half of employees in Canada suffer from a chronic ailment, according to a recent study.
Employers who ignore these conditions, however, risk losing some of their best employees who are debilitated by illness.
As such, employers need to start looking at revolutionary new options out there - options which could mean the difference between a happy, healthy worker or one that is suffering alone in silence.
What is pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomic testing?
HRD spoke to Mark Faiz, CEO of Personalized Prescribing, experts in pharmacogenetics – the new medical benefits which is gracing the HR world.
Pharmacogenetics, or more specifically Personalized Prescribing, uses genetic tests to help ensure people with chronic illness are matched to the right medication.
Pharmacogenomic testing looks at the genetic programming of a patient on a case-by-case basis to uncover why and how certain medications prove better than others.
The test is founded on the knowledge that genes are be directly or indirectly affecting how the body reacts to medication prescribed to a patient.
READ MORE: Chronic ailments - Ground-breaking benefits offer staff support
The right medication, the right dose
This is where Faiz comes in.
“The whole idea is we want people to be on the right medication, the right dose,” Faiz says. It works by looking under the hood, pinpointing genetic markers and mapping out the best treatment.
“We believe we can shorten recovery time and bring people back to work much faster. That's the main objective.”
“Imagine somebody having problems with their mental health medication, which happens all the time, and they're still coming in to work. They're trying their best work through it, but they are struggling. They're not productive and are unable to concentrate on their job,” Faiz points out.
“I think if we can put them on the right medication as fast as possible, before they even get to the point of disability, we can actually make them more productive employees.”
It doesn’t stop at mental illness, however. Faiz says the procedure covers pain, cardiovascular illness and even substance abuse.
The company partners with employers and insurers to get the message across that the clues – as to why an illness surfaces and recurs – are embedded within one’s genetic constitution.
This new science is slowly gaining traction – and followers. As knowledge grows and the technology and software behind the procedure continue to develop, Faiz expects more healthcare experts, employers and insurers to recognize this emerging tool.
“Virtually, 20 years ago, we didn't know much about genetics,” Faiz says. “Mapping a genome used to cause US$1.3 million. However, the science has advanced. The technology has become much faster.”
For today’s employers who are looking to support chronic disease sufferers in the workplace, it’s a much-needed benefit.
