QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9709)
RA 9709 is known as the "Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009."
To protect and promote the right to health of the people, including children’s right to survival and healthy development, through a comprehensive program for prevention, early detection, and diagnosis of congenital hearing loss among newborns and infants based on applied research and consultations.
A program that institutionalizes measures for prevention and early diagnosis of congenital hearing loss among newborns; provides referral follow-up, recall, and early intervention services; and includes counseling/support services for families.
Examples include: (1) ensure all newborns have access to screening; (2) establish a network of stakeholders for policy development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; (3) provide continuing capacity building/training; (4) establish and maintain a newborn hearing screening database; (5) ensure linkages to diagnosis and early intervention services; (6) develop public policy based on applied research and consultations; (7) develop effective screening, referral, and linkage models.
An infant from the time of complete delivery to thirty (30) days old.
Any healthcare practitioner who delivers or assists in the delivery of a newborn in the Philippines must, prior to delivery, inform the parents/legal guardian of the availability, nature, and benefits of hearing loss screening among newborns/infants three (3) months old and below.
All infants born in hospitals must undergo screening before discharge unless parents refuse under Section 7. Those not born in hospitals must be screened within the first three (3) months after birth. If screening is positive, the newborn must undergo audiologic diagnostic evaluation in a timely manner so follow-up/recall/referral for intervention occur before age six (6) months, performed by DOH-duly certified Newborn Hearing Screening Centers.
Yes, a parent/legal guardian may refuse on grounds of religious and/or cultural beliefs, but must acknowledge in writing that they were informed of their responsibility and of the risks of underdiagnosed congenital hearing loss if screening is not administered. The waiver is made part of the medical record and entered into the national database.
The attending health care practitioner must refer the newborn to the municipal or city health center of the barangay having jurisdiction for newborn hearing screening and audiologic diagnostic evaluation.
DOH leads implementation, including coordination with other agencies and stakeholders; certification and protocol coordination with NIH; monitoring screening in health institutions; developing rehabilitation programs for deaf children; and other specified functions.
Centers undertake newborn hearing loss screening, audiologic diagnostic evaluation, recall, follow-up, and referral programs for infants with hearing loss, and must be DOH-certified based on standards formulated with NIH.
Hospitals and newborn screening centers must periodically submit screening results to the NIH Reference Center. NIH maintains a national database and separate registry for diagnosed cases, submits annual reports to DOH, develops a long-term outcome evaluation plan within one year, and supports applied research and technical assistance (e.g., standardized data procedures, cost-effectiveness studies, risk factors, and school-age outcomes).
Referral for treatment: first to the provincial hospital of the concerned LGU. If beyond its clinical capability, referral to a DOH Tertiary Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, or other national non-DOH hospitals funded by national government subsidy. Provincial hospitals must have funds from the LGU’s internal revenue allotment.
PHIC shall include the cost of hearing loss screening in its benefit package, including testing, registry, follow-up, and reasonable overhead. DOH reviews/recommends fees charged by screening centers; no screening fee shall be charged to patients who availed of accredited behavioral tests. Accredited methods recommended by DOH upon NIH recommendation may be allowed as screening processes.
Within thirty (30) days from effectivity. DOH must also issue a special protocol on the deaf and people with hearing impairment in implementing Section 5 (Obligation to inform).
It takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.