Early diagnosis can make the difference
Early diagnosis can make the difference. That’s the message 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’re shining a spotlight on newborn screening – and two family stories in particular – to urge immediate action to implement the Minister of Health’s decision (Nov2023) to include Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in newborn screening, (ie the heel prick test), by the end of 2025.
Calling for Action. This campaign isn’t just about one or two families – it’s about every family and the 60,000 babies born in Ireland every year. The November 2023 decision to add SMA to the heelprick test needs to be implemented by the end of 2025. #BringSMAtoHeel
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
