Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2010-0020)
The main purpose of the UNHSP is to institutionalize measures for prevention, early diagnosis, and intervention of congenital hearing loss among newborns, including referral, follow-up, recall, early intervention, counseling, and support services to families of newborns with hearing loss.
Any health practitioner who delivers or assists in the delivery of a newborn in the Philippines is obligated to inform the parents or legal guardian about the availability, nature, and benefits of newborn hearing screening.
Newborn hearing screening should be performed before the newborn's discharge from the hospital or within the first three months after birth if not done before discharge.
Yes, parents or legal guardians may refuse newborn hearing screening on the grounds of religious or cultural beliefs, provided they acknowledge in writing that they have been informed of the availability of screening and the implications of refusal.
NHSCs are facilities equipped and certified by the DOH to conduct newborn hearing screening, recall babies with possible hearing loss, follow-up, initial evaluation, referral programs, and maintain and submit databases of newborn screening results.
The Department of Health (DOH) is the lead agency responsible for implementing the provisions of RA No. 9709 and its implementing rules and regulations.
The NHSRC establishes standards for certification of NHSCs, defines testing and follow-up protocols, maintains proficiency testing programs, oversees the national database, assists in training, manages educational materials, and reports non-compliance to the DOH.
LGUs must develop health workers' capabilities for newborn hearing screening, issue ordinances to integrate screening into local health systems, appropriate budgets, establish recall and referral systems, coordinate with other agencies, monitor and evaluate program implementation, and explore health financing options to make screening accessible.
The necessary funds are included in the annual General Appropriations Act, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall include hearing loss screening costs in its newborn care benefit package, facilitating gradual coverage of screening, diagnosis, and intervention services.
Healthcare institutions must integrate newborn hearing screening into health services, ensure staff orientation about NHS, designate responsible personnel for education, screening, recall, and referrals, institutionalize NHS services including information dissemination and follow-up, monitor and evaluate NHS operations, and establish financial systems for services.
According to the separability clause, if any provision is held invalid, other provisions shall remain valid and continue in full force and effect.
Certification renewal for NHSCs is required every three years, with the DOH having the sole responsibility to approve or disapprove certifications.
An 'arefera result' indicates that the ear tested did not pass the newborn hearing screening, signaling a need for further evaluation and possible intervention.
The committee includes the Secretary of Health (Chairperson), Executive Director of NIH (Vice Chairperson), Undersecretary of DILG, Executive Director of Council for the Welfare of Children, Directors of NSRC and NHSRC, representatives from Philippine Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Philippine Society of Audiology, and three appointed health professionals from public or private sectors.
Research includes technical assistance on data collection, development of standardized data management, cost-effectiveness studies, identification of causes and risk factors for congenital hearing loss, effectiveness of early detection and intervention programs, and sharing data to enhance program implementation and outcomes.