PERINATOLOGY • Vol 24 • No. 1 • May–Aug 2023 • 13 Studies estimate that < 3% of births are screened for only 1 disorder at a time.33 Currently, most neonates are not screened at all in India.34 Conclusion In conclusion, the current data imply that making NBS mandatory does aid in the early diagnosis of uncommon illnesses that are more prevalent in India than previously thought. NBS for widely known curable illnesses such as CH, CAH, and G6PD deficiency are done in a few metropolitan centers in India. Still, the epidemiologic data of all testable and treatable or untreatable IEM in India are not yet accessible. With increasing awareness and mandating NBS policy and programs, it will be possible to detect and counter these treatable diseases well in time. There should be a mandatory NBS policy for all neonates. The goal should be to screen all neonates born in hospitals throughout the country. In addition, parents should be informed about the severity and incidence of diseases, the ease of performing the screening, and the noninvasive nature of the tests. Secondly, laboratories and testing centers must provide low-cost packages covering a maximum number of diseases to encourage health care workers and parents to opt for screening. References 1. Kelly N, Makarem DC, Wasserstein MP. Screening of newborns for disorders with high benefit–risk ratios should be mandatory. J Law Med Ethics. 2016;44(2):231–240. 2. Kamath SS. Newborn screening in India. Indian Pediatr. 2015;52:373–374. 3. Weismiller DG. Expanded newborn screening: information and resources for the family physician. Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):703–709. 4. Sareen N, Pradhan R. Need for neonatal screening program in India: a national priority. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(2):204–220. 5. Pi t t JJ . Newborn screening. Cl in Biochem Rev. 2010;31(2):57–68. 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC grand rounds: newborn screening and improved outcomes. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61(21):390–393. 7. Loeber JG, et al. Neonatal screening in Europe revisited: an ISNS perspective on the current state and developments since 2010. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2021;7(1):15. 8. Koracin V, et al. Current status of newborn screening in Southeastern Europe. Front Pediatr. 2021;9:648939. 9. Jalan AB, Kudalkar KV. Newborn screening: need of the hour. Karnataka Pediatr J. 2021;36(1):35–41. 10. Kaur G, et al. Current and future perspective of newborn screening: an Indian scenario. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2016;29(1):5–13. 11. Mookken T. Universal implementation of newborn screening in India. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2020;6(2):24. 12. ICMR Task Force on Inherited Metabolic Disorders. Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Indian J Pediatr. 2018;85(11):935–940. 13. Padilla CD. Towards universal newborn screening in developing countries: obstacles and the way forward. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2008;37(12 Suppl):1–4. 14. Maiti A, Chatterjee S. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: an Indian experience. J Paediatr Child Health. 2011;47(12):883–887. 15. Kishore Kumar R, Das H, Kini P. Newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia in India: what do we need to watch out for? J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2016;66(6):415–419. 16. Desai MP, et al. Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism in a developing country: problems and strategies. Indian J Pediatr. 1987;54(4):571–581. 17. Gopalakrishnan V, et al. Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia and biotinidase deficiency in Uttar Pradesh, India. Indian Pediatr. 2014;51(9):701–705. 18. Rama Devi AR, Naushad SM. Newborn screening in India. Indian J Pediatr. 2004;71(2):157–160. 19. Sanghvi U, Diwakar KK. Universal newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism. Indian Pediatr. 2008;45:331–332. 20. Kaur G, et al. Preliminary report on neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: a Chandigarh experience. Indian J Pediatr. 2010;77(9):969–973. 21. Kishore Kumar R, Ranieri E, Fletcher J. Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism in India–Is OVERDUE. J Neonatal Biol. 2014;3(2):1000129. 22. Therrell BL Jr. Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism in India: let’s just do it! Indian Pediatr. 2019;56(4):275–276. 23. Kabra M, Gupta N. Galactosemia-a not to be missed inborn error of metabolism. Indian Pediatr. 2016;53(1):19–20. 24. Rajeshwari K, Gogia S. The clinical spectrum of chronic liver disease in children presenting to a tertiary level teaching hospital in New Delhi. Trop Doct. 2008;38(2):101–102. Research Article Gupta T, et al. The Need for Mandatory Newborn Screening in India
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