Neonatal screening: programme successfully expanded
The Austrian Neonatal Screening Programme (Ă–NGS) has been an ongoing success story since the 1960s. It ensures the rapid diagnosis of severe congenital disease in around 100 newborn babies a year. This means that treatment can be started promptly. Since June 2021, screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has also been included in the screening programme in Austria as part of a scientific project. The Austrian Neonatal Screening programme is one of the most comprehensive prevention programmes in Europe. 28th June is International Neonatal Screening Day. In Austria, all newborn babies, about 90,000 children per year, undergo free screening for rare congenital diseases.
