Advances and achievements of the newborn screening program (2012-2018)

Abstract

Inborn errors of metabolism represent an emerging public health problem that requires timely strategies and ongoing efforts. Currently, the newborn screening is the only method for early detection of this type of diseases, since it allows to identify affected newborns before irreversible damage appears. In the last 6 years, the screening panel at the Ministry of Health in México has increased from 1 to 6 diseases. The financing of the program has been fundamental for the development of the newborn screening program since it has guaranteed it as an integral process, and gradually has increased the assigned resources to this public policy. The hiring of specialized and integral services has allowed a substantial improvement on the results of the newborn screening program, streamlined the delivery of results, guaranteed access to confirmatory tests of 100% of suspected cases in a shorter time, all of this achieved an impact in the reduction of the time of the treatment beginning and therefore in the damage limitation and disability prevention.