Outcome, Practices, Progress, Advances at the 23rd Newborn Screening Convention

Driven by the theme “NBS OPPA: Outcome, Practices, Progress, Advances,” health leaders, experts, and newborn screening practitioners from across the country convened in Manila from October 16-17, 2025 for the 23rd Newborn Screening Convention, highlighting the nation’s pursuit of better outcomes and continuous innovation in newborn screening

- By LOUISE A. BARCIAL

In her opening address, Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines, Inc. (NSSPI) President Dr. Rizalina Racquel H. Gonzalez, emphasized the value of learning and collaborations.

“Together we will learn the tangible impacts of our collective efforts, the lives changed through early detection, the innovative projects pushing boundaries, the meaningful progress achieved through newborn screening, and the advances that promise continuity of care for newborns with positive screens,” she said.

PhilHealth’s President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado commended the evolution of the NBS program, stressing the importance of inter-agency collaboration in its sustained success. “These stories remind us of why the partnership of the program leaders, implementers, and advocates in this room must continue to grow stronger,” Mercado said, noting how the benefits of newborn screening contribute to the goals of universal healthcare.