Newborn Screening In The Philippines And India: Its Status And Problems Encountered In The Program

Abstract

This study being a collaborative research dealt with the program on Newborn Screening in the Philippines and India, its status and the glitches encountered in the program. It also aimed to determine the profile of the newborn screening program in both countries. The descriptive-comparative research design was utilized. The data from the Philippines regarding the status of newborn screening were gathered from records of the Provincial Health Office, Ilocos Sur. While the data from the state of Gujarat, India were derived from health providers, through records review and from previous research studies. A comparison on the status of the Newborn Screening in Ilocos Sur, Philippines and in Gujarat, India along legal mandate, cost of testing, specimen used, diseases screened, consent required, funding agencies and the availability of screening centers was done. The disorders screened in both the countries may not be totally the same due to the racial differences. In the Philippines, the screening includes seven metabolic and genetic diseases. In India, the screening services are more than the services the Philippines is offering. The problems encountered in the program in the Philippines and India were also identified.