Early diagnosis can make the difference
Early diagnosis can make the difference. That’s the message which was at the heart of our support for the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) Innovate For Life 2025 campaign, which this year focuses on early diagnosis and prevention. As part of this advocacy campaign, we were ’re shining a spotlight on newborn screening – and two family stories in particular – to highlight the importance of adding Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in newborn screening, (ie the heel prick test).
We were very pleased that the Minister for Health has announced that, from 13 April 2026, testing for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) has now commenced through the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (heel prick test).
Oct 21, 2025
Watch the Ryan family story (3 min)
Why newborn screening matters (1 min)
SMA Europe - Newborn screening is cost effective
Need for newborn screening - A parents perspective
SMA Ireland - The need for SMA to be included in the heelprick test
