Hyderabad, 11 September 2016 – Trivitron Healthcare, one of India's largest medical technology companies of Indian origin in association with Neogen Labs hosted a Symposium on the occasion of New Born Screening Month to highlight the relevance of the topic.  Newborn Screening is a pediatric screening service provided to newly born children to assess the possibility of genetic disorders in the area of “Inborn Errors of Metabolism” and while it is predominant in western countries, is still to find precedence in India. 

Errors or disorders in newborns could lead to permanent neurological, cognitive, tactile, and physical damage in the child. However, if detected early enough, can be easily treated. Factors contributing to their high prevalence include consanguineous marriages, high birth rate, improved diagnostic facilities and a lack of expertise in genetic counseling. In India, 1–4% of the population is mentally retarded and 5–15% of newborn sick babies have metabolic disorders.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Saurabh Dani,  Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ankur Hospital, Mumbai said “Newborn Screening has been proved to be a very effective public health program in several countries and just second to the popular immunisation program. Indians have yet to realise its full potential benefits. All stakeholders like parents, Public Health administrators, NGO's, Gynecologist, Pediatricians and other healthcare providers have to work together to help in improving the life of a newborns who cannot fend for themselves.”

Problems associated with Newborn Screening are: 

• Early discharge of the neonates,
• Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.  
• Parental reluctance and fostering greater cooperation and coordination between associated departments and staff. 

Parental counseling preceding sample collection resulted in remarkably low refusal rates (0.3%), reflecting the willingness of the parents to participate in the screening programs for the benefit of their child.

The Newborn Screening symposium was started four years ago and is held every two years. The current event was the third in the series with the theme “We are on our way!”

Many hospitals now screen for, at least, Congenital Hypothyroidism. Quite a few screen for 3 or more disorders. Some screen for the comprehensive panel of more than 50 disorders. State Governments in India have started or are in the process of starting newborn screening programs. The challenge faced is in what to do for treatment after screening finds a disorder and it is confirmed. The coalition are making headway in finding a solution  and believe that access to life saving diets will be available soon, after many false starts. Expertise in treatments is being fast developed with development of local diets.

This symposium is an effort to inform, educate and share experiences to understand the benefits of screening. A small step in a long journey to realize universal screening in India.