The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in the UAE has revealed National Newborn Screening Guidelines to standardise medical examinations for newborns across the country.
The guidelines aim to prevent early health complications by establishing a standard list of laboratory and clinical tests and identifying reference laboratories nationwide.
High-ranking officials, including Dr. Nada Hassan Al Marzouqi, Director of Public Health and Prevention Department, and Dr. Suad Al Awar, Head of the Family Health Department, attended the launch event.
The guide seeks to provide consistent screening approaches for conditions that could affect a newborn’s health or long-term survival. It is expected to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among newborns and enhance healthcare providers’ capabilities.
“MoHAP will make every possible effort to promote disease prevention and establish robust healthcare systems designed to support healthy lifestyles across all age groups,” Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector said.
He added that the guideline “will provide a crucial reference for the health sector to improve the health of future generations”.
The programme will be implemented in government and private hospitals throughout the UAE. It facilitates early diagnosis of genetic diseases, metabolic and endocrine disorders, and screens for hearing abnormalities and heart defects.
During the launch workshop, members of the National Newborn Screening Committee were recognised, and Dr. Suad Al Awar presented an introduction to the National Newborn Screening Programme.
The session covered the guideline’s procedures, result reporting methods, blood spot tests, hearing and heart disease screening, clinical pathways, key performance indicators, and recent statistics.
