David Cullinane
Ceist:1645. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding newborn screening to the European Union average. [29879/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 June 2022
Ceisteanna (1645)
Freagraí scríofa
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been progressing work on this expansion.
The NSAC is an independent, expert committee which makes recommendations to me and my Department on new screening programmes, as well as changes to existing population-based screening programmes.
The evidence bar for commencing a screening programme should and must remain high. This evidence threshold ensures that we can be confident that the programme in question is effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards for the population. The case for commencing or expanding a population-based screening programme is evaluated against internationally accepted criteria, and includes an examination of ethical, economic, legal and societal factors as well as the scientific evidence.
Financial cost is but one factor that is considered in the decision-making process. Due to the complex nature of the evaluation process and the criteria against which a decision is made, it would be impossible to accurately quantify the cost of expanding a screening service until a full evidential assessment was completed.
I am pleased to report recent progress in expanding newborn screening with a ninth condition, ADA-SCID (Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency), being added to the NBS programme on 23 May 2022. This important development means that all newborn babies in Ireland will now be screened, as part of the ‘heel prick’ test, for this rare condition which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. Funding for this expansion was provided to the HSE in the budget.
The NSAC has also commissioned HIQA to undertake a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) looking at the addition of other SCID types to the NBS programme. This HTA is currently underway and includes an examination of budget impact and resource implications. I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the NSAC on this condition after the HTA process is finalised later this year.