Written answers

Tuesday, 29 November 2022

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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605. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in relation to the expansion of the heel prick test for babies, in view of the fact that up to 40 medical conditions can be identified using this test in some European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58722/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.

Any decisions about changes to the screening programmes, such as the expansion of newborn screening, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.

The Committee's first Annual Call in 2021 for proposals for new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes, received a significant response with a total of 53 submissions received, including in relation to newborn blood spot screening. Submissions were received from various sources, including members of the public and patient advocates, and have been undergoing consideration by the committee at its scheduled meetings during 2022. The NSAC intends to publish its full work programme in the coming weeks.

The expansion of newborn blood spot screening is a priority for the NSAC and significant work is underway on this. Progress has already been achieved in the expansion of the National Newborn Blood spot Screening (NBS) programme. A ninth condition (ADA-SCID) was added to the NBS programme in May 2022, following a recommendation from the National Screening Advisory Committee which I approved in 2020.

A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to look at the evidence for the addition of a tenth condition (called SCID) is currently underway, and I am looking forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee before the end of 2022.

The second NSAC Annual Call is expected to open in November 2022 and will welcome proposals from the public and healthcare professionals. Further details will be published on the NSAC website shortly.

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