REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City me

BY:

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
3844

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act 9288, otherwise known as the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, illustrates a
procedure to detect a genetic and metabolic disorder in newborns that may lead to mental
retardation and even death if left untreated.

In many countries, newborn screening has been a mechanism that protects babies from health
risks. In our country, the rules and regulations implementing the Newborn Screening Act
recommended the conditions to be included in the newborn screening panel of disorders.
According to the Philippine Pediatrics Society, the advancement of newborn screening has
succeeded in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with certain congenital disorders as
it allows timely medical intervention for diagnosed patients. Affected children identified
through newborn screening can lead normal lives with the help of prompt and appropriate
medical management.

Recognizing the importance of newborn screening, this bill expands the number of disorders
for which newborn infants in the country are required to be tested by law. Specifically, this
bill provides for the expansion of the prescribed list of disorders for which testing is required
under the implementing rules and regulations ofR.A. 9288.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3844

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIL

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF DISORDERS INCLUDED IN THE NEWBORN
SCREENING PROGRAM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1.Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Newborn Screening Panel of
Disorders Act".

SEC. 2.Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State that in the
i public health, every effort should be made to detect in newborn infants,
m, galactosemia, phenylketonuria, and other biochemical disorders which may
cause mental retardation or other permanent disabilities and to treat the affected individuals.

SEC. 3.Newborn Screening Panel of Disorders. - All infants born in the country shall,
pursuant to the Newborn Screening (NBS) Act, be tested for the hereditary disorders such as,
but not limited to, the following:

a) congenital hypothyroidism;

d)

galactosemia;

©

phenylketonuria;

¢d

cystic fibrosis;

°)

congenital adrenal hyperplasia;
) maple syrup urine disease;

g) homocystinuria;

h)

biotinidase deficiency;
i) medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency;

j)_ HIV seropositivity;


k) sickle cell disease; and
1) other blood abnormalities as determined by the Department.

The Secretary of the Department of Health, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, shall issue
regulations to assure that newbomns are tested in a manner approved by the same Department.
The Secretary shall also ensure that treatment services are available to all identified
individuals. The provisions of this Act shall not apply if the parents of a newborn infant
object to the testing on the grounds that it would conflict with their religious tenets or

practices.

SEC. 4.Tasks of the Department of Health. - The Department of Health, hereinafter referred
to as the Department, shall perform the following tasks:

a) may charge a reasonable fee for the tests performed pursuant to this Act, and
determine the procedures for collecting such;

1)

shall apply all revenues collected from the fees to the testing and treatment procedures
performed pursuant to this Act;

c) may also require testing of newborn infants for other preventable biochemical
disorders if reliable and efficient testing techniques are available;

d)

shall provide a program of reviewing and following up on positive cases in order that
measures may be taken to prevent mental retardation or other permanent disabilities;
and

e) shall conduct an intensive educational and training program among physicians,
hospitals, public health nurses and the public concerning biochemical disorders.

SEC. 5.Jnformation Related to Disorders in the NBS. - Information on newborn infants and
their families compiled pursuant to this Act may be used by the Department and agencies
designated by the Secretary for the purposes of carrying out this Act; otherwise, the
information shall be confidential and not divulged or made public so as to disclose the
identity of any person to which it relates, except as provided by law. The program indicated
in Section 3 (d) shall include information concerning the nature of the disorders, testing for
the detection of these disorders and treatment modalities for these disorders.

SEC. 6.Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be found to be
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7.Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8.Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,