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Posted on 06/09/2022 17:36

In the first stage of the expansion of the Foot Test, the Federal Government incorporates a test for toxoplasmosis

Federal incremental annual investment will be R$ 22.3 million to fund procedures - Photo: Rodrigo Nunes/MS

 

The Foot test will also be used to detect congenital toxoplasmosis - the procedure is part of the expansion of the test in the Unified Health System (SUS). To fund the exams, the Federal Government will invest R$ 22.3 million annually, which will be transferred to the states and the Federal District. The ordinance published by the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, on Wednesday (06/08), regulates the first stage of implementation of the Neonatal Screening Program.

 

The Federal Government sanctioned Law No. 14,154, which expanded the tracking of diseases in the National Neonatal Screening Program. The Foot Test is part of the PNTN and tracks a series of diseases and congenital conditions that, identified early in life, can make a difference in infant mortality rates and healthy child development.

 

The inclusion of the procedure for detecting congenital toxoplasmosis in newborns in the SUS Table completes the scope of diseases specified in stage I of the Law. In addition to inserting the procedure, a joint Technical Note is being prepared by the Secretariats of Specialized Health Care, Primary Health Care, Indigenous Health and Health Surveillance. On the flow of screening, confirmatory diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and notification of suspected cases in newborns.

 

The process for including diseases in Neonatal Screening will be done gradually, according to the steps provided for by law. The stages and disease groups are: stage 1 (phenylketonuria and other hyperphenylalaninemias, congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies, cystic fibrosis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, biotinidase deficiency and congenital toxoplasmosis), stage 2 (galactosemias, aminoacidopathies, urea cycle and fatty acid beta-oxidation disorders), stage 3 (lysosomal diseases), stage 4 (primary immunodeficiencies), and stage 5 (spinal muscular atrophy).

 

Foot test

The Foot Test is mandatory and must be performed on all newborns. It is collected in the public network, following procedures from screening, confirmation, diagnosis and treatment for a series of conditions.

 

The purpose of the examination is to prevent complications from the investigated diseases that do not present symptoms in the neonatal period (0 to 28 days of life), which may lead to deficiencies or seriously affect the child's health. Treated in time, the chance that the disease does not leave sequelae is greater, improving the quality of life of confirmed and treated cases.

 

The Foot Test is the popular name given to the collection of blood from the heel of newborns for the timely identification of metabolic, genetic and infectious diseases. Last year, the screening program tested 2.2 million babies at about 29,000 collection points across the country.

 

In the last three years, the Ministry of Health's investment in the PNTN reached close to R$ 300 million a year. The incremental investment with the implementation of the 1st stage of expansion is over 22 million.

 

With information from the Ministry of Health

 

Category

Health and Sanitary Surveillance

Tags: Ministry of HealthNeonatal ScreeningTesting of the Foot