Ministry of Health: Expanded Neonatal Screening for Six Diseases Launched

The Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Mikhail Okoliyski, has officially launched the expanded neonatal screening in Bulgaria, the Ministry of Health reports.

Starting today, all newborns will be screened for three additional rare and severe diseases: spinal muscular atrophy, severe combined immunodeficiencies, and cystic fibrosis. These are added to the existing three—phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia—bringing the total number of diseases in the program to six.

The official launch took place during a visit by Minister Okoliyski and Deputy Minister Dr. Petar Gribnev to the “Maichin Dom” University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, which houses one of the two specialized laboratories. The second is located at the “Prof. Ivan Mitev” Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Children’s Diseases; both will process samples from across the country.

“Neonatal screening is one of the most important preventive programs in public healthcare. A few drops of blood, taken in the first days after birth, can change a child’s entire life,” stated Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski.

The screening is performed between the 48th and 120th hour after birth by taking a few drops of blood from the newborn’s heel. This method allows for the early detection of diseases that show no visible symptoms at birth, enabling timely treatment and a better prognosis for the children’s development.