site.btaHealth Minister Launches Expanded Neonatal Screening in Bulgaria

Caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski announced the launch of expanded neonatal screening in Bulgaria, the Health Ministry said on Facebook on Wednesday. Together with Deputy Minister Petar Gribnev, he visited the specialized obstetrics and gynaecology hospital Maichin Dom in Sofia, where one of the two specialized laboratories is located that will receive samples from newborns across the country. The other laboratory is based at the Prof. Ivan Mitev specialized paediatric hospital.

As of Wednesday, all newborns in the country will be tested for three additional severe rare diseases - spinal muscular atrophy, severe combined immunodeficiencies, and cystic fibrosis. These are added to the existing screening for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, bringing the total number of diseases included in the mass neonatal screening programme to six.

"Neonatal screening is one of the most important preventive programmes in public healthcare. A few drops of blood taken in the first days after birth can change a child’s entire life. The earlier these diseases are detected, the greater the chance for normal development," Minister Okoliyski said.

Maichin Dom Director Prof. Ivan Kostov and National Genetic Laboratory head Dr Irena Bradinova presented to the Minister and his deputy the new equipment, which was tested over the past week.

Neonatal screening is carried out between 48 and 120 hours after birth. A few drops of blood are taken from the newborn’s heel, allowing for the detection of diseases that have no visible symptoms at birth.