a day ago
MoHAP strengthens partnership with private hospitals to enhance national newborn screening programme
12 Aug 2025 16:14
DUBAI (ALETIHAD) The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) held a coordination meeting with representatives from private hospitals to discuss ways to improve the national newborn screening programme and ensure its alignment with the UAE's approved national standards in accordance with federal health meeting was held as part of the Ministry's commitment to promoting proactive healthcare and achieving the highest standards of quality in preventive health a press statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that these measures are implemented in line with the Cabinet Resolution on newborn medical screening and the directives issued by the Health Regulation Sector, which define the procedures, standards, and regulatory framework for newborn include ongoing monitoring and validation of tests to ensure accuracy, alongside comprehensive clinical and biochemical meeting aimed to support MoHAP's ongoing efforts to standardise regulatory and technical procedures for newborn screenings, ensuring the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency in early detection of genetic disorders, hereditary diseases, and other health efforts are supported by 'Riayati,' the digital healthcare platform for the National Unified Medical Record (NUMR) programme featuring an integrated database. This platform offers innovative solutions in automation and health data platform enhances patient safety, improves efficiency and service quality, and facilitates timely access to patient records, supporting informed clinical decision-making and advancing MoHAP's preventive health and service improvement meeting addressed several strategic themes, including a detailed review of the UAE Cabinet Resolution concerning newborn medical screening. This resolution outlines the procedures, protocols, and regulatory framework governing the screening process, ranging from test result follow-ups and accuracy verification to clinical and biochemical evaluations. It also includes the standard protocols for hearing screening and the detection of critical congenital heart the meeting reviewed circulars issued by the Health Regulation Sector, aimed at ensuring unified and consistent implementation of newborn screening protocols across both public and private healthcare institutions in the country, and raising community awareness about the importance of these critical programme is executed through a unified network of government and private hospitals across the UAE, laying the foundation for a unified approach to early detection, preventing potential complications, and designating specialised reference stressed that safeguarding the health of newborns is a strategic priority within the UAE's national healthcare system, reaffirming its keenness to provide integrated preventive and therapeutic healthcare services that align with the latest global standards and advanced medical Ministry added that it is committed to promoting a culture of disease prevention, supported by advanced healthcare systems capable of providing sustainable healthy lifestyles for all segments of Ministry further highlighted the importance of effective partnership with the private health sector, describing it as a strategic ally in achieving national health emphasised that ongoing coordination and the exchange of expertise among all components of the health system are fundamental to building a resilient and integrated healthcare noted that newborn screening involves collecting a blood sample for biochemical testing at the National Reference Laboratory to identify potential health conditions, particularly hereditary disorders.
The screening also includes hearing assessments to detect impairments, cardiac examinations to identify critical congenital heart defects, and any additional tests introduced in line with global best practices.
