As stipulated in the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, the NSRC shall be guided by the following functions:

• be responsible for the national testing database and case registries, training, technical assistance and continuing education for laboratory staff in all Newborn Screening Centers
• define the testing and follow-up protocols for Newborn Screening Centers (NSCs) to be established in strategic locations in the country
• maintain an external laboratory proficiency-testing program
• oversee the national testing database and case registries
• report to the BHFS the NSCs found violating these rules and regulations and those performing and providing NBS procedures and services without any DOH accreditation
• participate in consultation and evaluation activities initiated by BHFS in relation to the NSRC and the NSCs performance and in improving implementation of these rules and regulations.

RA 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 mandates the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines to create the Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC). The NSRC is responsible for the national testing database and case registries, training, technical assistance and continuing education for laboratory staff in all Newborn Screening Centers. Section 14 of the same article also stipulates that Newborn Screening Reference Center shall be responsible for the Quality Assurance of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System of the Country.

The NSRC provides technical assistance to the DOH-NIH network in reaching the ultimate goal of screening Filipino newborns for common life-threatening heritable disorders. NSRC, together with the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (BHFS) of the DOH, ensures that quality services are provided to babies screened. The NSRC assists DOH in establishing Newborn Screening Centers (NSC’s) in geographically located areas. All NSCs will comprise a newborn screening laboratory and will be equipped with a follow up program that is linked with the DOH.

MISSION

The Newborn Screening Reference Center of the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health ensures all Filipino children will have equitable access to comprehensive quality care for their optimal growth and development through training, education, advocacy, policy development, research and quality management systems.

With access to state of the art technologies, expertise and years of experience, we will ethically manage our resources to be able to achieve sustainability of our socially responsive programs, providing excellence, innovations and a competent human resource.

VISION

The NSRC shares the vision of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System which is the vision of the Child 2025 Planning Framework aiming that:

By 2028, every Filipino child will be born healthy and well, with an inherent right to life, endowed with human dignity and reaching her/his full potential with the right opportunities and accessible resources.

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