National newborn screening program still a hype or a hope now?
The year 2013 marks 50 years of both newborn screening and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. India has seen a lot of change in terms of motivation, evolution and implementation of newborn screening as pilot projects for few disorders. Facilities for implementing screening using tandem mass spectrometry or what is termed as expanded newborn screening have also become available. We attempt to discuss the evolution of newborn screening and the way to carry it forward in the country. The current strengths, the major obstacles and gritty challenges are enlisted. No moment could be so opportune than this year to discuss the rainbow of hope with all its colors with respect to newborn screening in our country.
Department of Genetics and Metabolism, MAMC, Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India. drseemakapoor@gmail.com
Seema
S
Kapoor
Neerja
N
Gupta
Madhulika
M
Kabra
D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*