Overcoming challenges in sustaining newborn screening in low-middle-income countries: the Philippine newborn screening system

Abstract

Newborn screening (NBS) was introduced in the Philippines in 1996, and the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 mandated its provision to all Filipino newborns. The program initially covered five conditions and has expanded to the current panel of 29 conditions. This report focuses on the steps taken for successful NBS implementation and the challenges that must be overcome to make NBS sustainable. While often considered a public health program, NBS is really a system of interacting parts that must be carefully considered and planned prior to embarking on their implementation. The basic challenges are the same in both high-income and low-middle-income countries (LMICs), but they are more difficult to overcome in LMICs. In addition to the technical aspects of screening, including supplies and maintenance, considerations must include human resources, professional and public education, and government support. Challenges may occur at any point in implementation and continuation, and it is important to learn from the experiences of others in order to make the process more efficient. Here, we report on the experiences in one LMIC, the Philippines, in creating and sustaining a NBS system so that others may gain from these experiences.