The obligation to carry out neonatal screening will be a reality in Panama after the approval in the third debate of Bill 705, a regulation that, in addition to the metabolic test, includes the detection of hearing, cardiac and visual problems in health institutions public and private.

The new legal regulations will be universal and free access for all newborns in the country as part of their initial care and under the responsibility of the Executive Branch.

The project, its main objective is to offer comprehensive care, medical and surgical treatment, and necessary technical assistance, in a timely manner, corresponding to said diseases and/or disorders detected.

Mario Rodríguez, from the Ministry of Health, maintained that hopes are open for a longer and better period of life for infants, but that the ideal is to expand the discovery of pathologies since these specializations are guarantors in the detection of seven diseases.