Thailand offers free newborn screening for 24 rare conditions to boost birth rate

The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) of Thailand announced a new initiative offering free screening for newborns to detect 24 rare medical conditions. This proactive move is part of a wider strategy designed to bolster the health of the nation’s children. This comes amidst an ongoing decline in the birth rate, with a current average of 1.4 births per woman, leading to an ageing population.

DMS director-general, Supakit Sirilak, highlighted the importance of the initiative in keeping Thailand’s median age from rising further. The free screenings are expected to serve as an incentive for women to have more children by providing early detection of foetal abnormalities and genetic conditions. This is particularly relevant for those residing in remote areas of the country.

Data from the Birth Defects Association (Thailand) shows that around 70 out of every 500,000 children born annually in Thailand have a rare, potentially life-threatening condition. The majority of these cases occur in rural areas, often due to close familial relations, as stated by the association’s president, Pornswan Wasant.

NHSO secretary-general, Dr Jadet Thammathataree, reassured that the cost of treating these 24 conditions, including patient transfers to hospitals with the necessary expertise, will be covered by the NHSO.

The government aims to introduce this screening to all newborns within 24 hours of their birth by the end of 2024, according to Supakit.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a spate of unsettling news regarding newborn babies. Last week, a newborn baby was found dead on South Pattaya Road, Pattaya. The lifeless body of the newborn baby girl was found on a mound of waste, left to the mercy of fate.

The details of this harrowing incident were disclosed by local police who received a distress call, which led them to the dreaded scene located near a prominent Big C department store in South Pattaya. Read more about the tragic story HERE.

Another shocking discovery was made two weeks ago today when a newborn baby was found dead floating in the Chao Phraya River near a pier. Local police are now searching for the individual who left the child. Read more about the shocking tale HERE.

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