Newborn Screening Center Mindanao census from 2019 to 2022
- Author:
Christine May Perandos-Astudillo
1
;
Clarence Xlasi D Ladrero
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Other Types
- MeSH: Neonatal Screening; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency; Congenital Hypothyroidism
- From: Southern Philippines Medical Center Journal of Health Care Services 2023;9(2):1-
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
- Abstract: Congenital disorders cause a global estimate of 240,000 deaths in newborns and 170,000 deaths in children ages 1 month up to 5 years every year. 1 In order to detect metabolic, hematologic, or endocrine disorders in newborns, newborn screening (NBS) is conducted in many countries around the world. In the Philippines, NBS was introduced by the Newborn Screening Study Group in 1996, with the aim of establishing the incidence of six metabolic conditions, namely, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, galactosemia, phenylketonuria, homocystinuria, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and creating recommendations for the adoption of NBS nationwide.2 The Republic Act No. 9288, otherwise known as the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, requires that the Department of Health shall ensure the establishment and accreditation of newborn screening centers (NSCs) in strategically located areas across the Philippines.3 At present, there are seven operational NSCs in the country,4 with the Newborn Screening Center-Mindanao (NSC-Mindanao) in Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) as the only center catering to all NBS facilities all over Mindanao.5 NSC-Mindanao initially performed screening tests for five disorders, but now tests for a panel of 29 metabolic and other congenital disorders.
