Objectives of the UNHSP
- Ensure access to hearing screening and diagnostic services for newborns.
- Promote nationwide network collaboration among government and non-government agencies.
- Provide ongoing capacity building through training and research.
- Integrate research activities and maintain a national newborn hearing screening database.
- Develop public policies based on applied research.
- Establish linkages among screening centers for consistent service and data sharing.
- Implement quality standards and develop alternative screening methodologies.
Definition of Key Terms
- Provides precise definitions for terms such as Alternative Methods, Audiologic Diagnostic Evaluation, Certification, Congenital Hearing Loss, Healthcare Practitioner, Infant, Intervention, Newborn, Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS), among others.
- Clarifies roles and responsibilities related to screening, recall, referral, and intervention.
Obligations and Procedures in Implementation
- Health practitioners must inform parents/guardians about NHS benefits during prenatal or perinatal periods.
- All hospital-born infants to undergo NHS before discharge unless opted out on religious/cultural grounds with documented waiver.
- Infants born outside hospitals or in areas lacking facilities to undergo alternative screening with referral for validation.
- NHS performed by trained healthcare providers; validation by certified centers only.
- Joint responsibility of parents, healthcare providers, and relevant individuals to ensure NHS compliance.
Recall and Referral Systems
- Immediate recall for infants with screening referral results for further evaluation and intervention.
- Active role of Local Government Units (LGUs) and health institutions in recall and monitoring.
- Establishment of referral networks and standard clinical protocols for management of infants failing initial screening.
Handling Refusal of Screening
- Allows refusals on cultural or religious grounds with mandatory written acknowledgment of counseling on risks.
- Waivers to be included in the medical record and national database.
Education and Training
- Continuing education and training programs for healthcare practitioners focused on NHS.
- Information dissemination through materials and integration into educational curricula.
Implementation Structure and Coordination
- The Department of Health (DOH) as the lead agency to coordinate, mobilize resources, enforce policies, and monitor implementation.
- Collaboration between DOH, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Local Government Units, professional organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
- Development of advocacy campaigns and integration of UNHSP into existing health delivery systems.
Stakeholders and Their Responsibilities
- Healthcare Institutions: Institutionalize NHS services, orient staff, designate responsible personnel, monitor operations, and ensure accessibility.
- Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) and LGUs: Facilitate implementation, provide budget, enact ordinances, train personnel, and monitor program effectiveness.
- Academe and Professional Societies: Promote awareness and inclusion of NHS in health curricula.
- Council for the Welfare of Children: Integrate NHS into early childhood programs and advocacy.
Advisory Committee on Newborn Hearing Screening
- Created as an inter-agency body chaired by the Secretary of Health.
- Composition includes representatives from governmental agencies, professional societies, and appointed health experts.
- Functions include reviewing risk factors, fees, recommending corrective measures, and strategic guidance.
- Meets at least biannually with NIH as secretariat.
Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center (NHSRC)
- Established at NIH Philippines to set standards, certify centers, maintain protocols and databases.
- Oversees proficiency testing, training, educational materials, and reports non-compliance to DOH.
- Manages national centralized database and reporting.
Newborn Hearing Screening Centers (NHSC)
- Nationwide establishment required; existing newborn screening centers to develop NHS capacity.
- Certification mandatory from DOH; subject to periodic audits and monitoring.
- Functions include screening, evaluation, recall, follow-up, referral, and database maintenance.
Applied Research
- Grants awarded for technical assistance and research on infant hearing detection, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
- Research to cover data management, cost-effectiveness, causes and risk factors, and long-term health and developmental impacts.
Government Intervention and Support
- LGU responsibilities include referral, accompaniment of affected newborns, and provision of treatment funds.
- PHIC (PhilHealth) to include NHS in newborn care benefit package and develop coverage programs.
- No screening fees for approved behavioral-reflexive tests; only DOH-approved methods allowed.
Funding and Miscellaneous
- Appropriations for implementation included in the General Appropriations Act.
- Separability clause ensures remaining provisions remain effective if any part is invalidated.
- IRR effective immediately upon publication.