by Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center
BALANGA CITY – In a milestone for newborn health in Bataan, the Department of Health – Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (DOH-BataanGHMC) inaugurated its Newborn Screening Continuity Clinic (NBSCC) on July 16, 2025.
The NBSCC is a DOH-designated ambulatory clinic within a tertiary hospital that is part of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System Treatment Network. It ensures continuity of care for infants confirmed with conditions detected through newborn screening. Nationally, it is the 34th NBSCC, the 4th in Central Luzon, and the first fully integrated clinic within its host facility, providing seamless outpatient services to confirmed cases.
As host, the BataanGHMC-NBSCC is responsible for long-term follow-up treatment, management of birth defects, integration of services with hospital OPD operations, and adherence to DOH and NSRC guidelines. Patient endorsement from the DOH-JBLMGH began in May 2025, with 117 patients already endorsed by early July. Consultations have also started, including two recalled alpha thalassemia patients. Each confirmed case is enrolled in a structured follow-up program, ensuring regular monitoring even for infants who initially appear clinically normal.
The advisory board is led by Dr. Glory V. Baltazar, Medical Center Chief II, with Dr. Jerry James Bunagan as NBS Coordinator and Dr. Beatrice Mae Limoncito as Follow-up Head, assisted by follow-up nurse Crystal Gale Tordera. The multidisciplinary team includes subspecialists in Clinical Genetics, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Hematology, Neonatology, and Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics, supported by medical technologists and dietitians.
The inauguration featured the welcome remarks from Dr. Baltazar, who acknowledged the challenges of establishing the first continuity clinic in the province and its life-saving impact. In her keynote address, National Scientist Dr. Carmencita Padilla, author of the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (RA 9288) and Rare Disease Act of 2016 (RA 10747), emphasized turning “positive screens into positive outcomes” and noted that the BataanGHMC could serve as a model for other DOH hospitals.
Support messages were also delivered by Dr. Michelle E. Abadingo, director of the Newborn Screening Reference Center, who underscored the power of collaboration; Dr. Janet T. Miclat of DOH Central Luzon CHD, who praised the BataanGHMC’s strong performance with no backlogs in newborn screening; and Dr. Ebner Bon G. Maceda of the Center for Human Genetics Services, who highlighted the clinic’s role in protecting children’s health and development.
Closing the event, Dr. Luis Hizon, chief of Medical Professional Staff of the BataanGHMC, expressed hope that this pioneering initiative will inspire other DOH hospitals to establish similar clinics, expanding access to essential newborn care across the country.
With its official launch, the BataanGHMC NBSCC—the first fully facility-integrated NBSCC in the Philippines—stands ready to provide life-saving follow-up care and elevate the standard of newborn health services in Bataan and beyond.
