Taipei: Taiwan will fully subsidize newborn screening tests and add spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to the list of publicly funded screening items starting in July, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang announced Tuesday. Speaking at the inauguration of an Asia-Pacific rare disease innovative treatment center, Shih emphasized the government's commitment to expanding healthcare coverage for newborns.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) plans to increase the subsidy for congenital metabolic disorder screening from the current partial coverage of NT$200 (US$6.35) to fully cover the NT$750 per test. Currently, the HPA partially subsidizes screenings for 21 conditions, including 18 rare diseases, with parents responsible for the remaining balance. Starting in July, SMA will be added as the 22nd publicly funded screening item.

Shih highlighted that the expanded program will benefit the 90,000 to 100,000 babies born annually in Taiwan, supported by a budget allocation nearing NT$100 million. Newborn screening, typically conducted 48 hours post-birth, serves as an infant's initial health check. Congenital metabolic disorders often lack visible symptoms at birth, and delayed diagnosis can result in permanent neurological or physical damage, according to the HPA.

Jong Yuh-jyh, a pediatric specialist at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, remarked that SMA was historically seen as an incurable, fatal disease. However, advances in medicine have turned it into a manageable condition if treatment starts early. With multiple SMA therapies now covered by National Health Insurance, early intervention remains key to successful treatment, Jong noted.

Citing medical literature, Jong added that infants diagnosed and treated before symptoms appear have shown significantly better outcomes, with studies indicating these children can walk independently by 18 months of age. He also shared a clinical case where a baby diagnosed through newborn screening received early treatment and developed normally.

Meanwhile, the HPA reminded parents that a positive screening result is not a definitive diagnosis but a prompt to schedule follow-up examinations. Taiwan's newborn screening rate currently exceeds 99 percent, according to the agency.