Newborn screening in the Philippines.

The Newborn Screening Study Group first introduced newborn screening in the Philippines in 1996. This group of pediatricians and obstetricians from 24 hospitals in the metropolitan Manila area developed a newborn screening program: (1) to establish the incidence of six metabolic conditions--congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, galactosemia, phenylketonuria, homocystinuria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and (2) to make recommendations for the adoption of newborn screening nationwide. Newborn screening developed in three phases: (1) routine screening for 5 disorders excluding G6PD deficiency in the 24 member hospitals in Metro Manila, (2) addition of screening for G6PD deficiency to the 5-disorder screening panel, and (3) program evaluation with subsequent reduction in the time of sample collection to 24 hrs of age or older (from the initial requirement of 48 hrs. or older) and discontinuation of screening for homocystinuria as a cost cutting measure (due to non-detection of cases). Data from 201 participating hospitals reported in September 2001 confirmed 48 cases of congenital hypothyroidism, 21 cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 2 cases of galactosemia, 4 cases of hyperphenylalanemia and 1,495 cases of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. The Department of Health has recognized the significance of the initial data and efforts are now being undertaken to ensure the nationwide implementation of newborn screening.