Enhancing Collaboration Between MoHAP and Private Medical Institutions for the Progression of the Nationwide Newborn Screening Initiative
Newborn Screening System in the UAE: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventative Care
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has established a robust newborn screening system, governed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Health Regulation Sector. This system, effective since August 16, 2025, is guided by the National Newborn Screening Guidelines.
The screening programme includes biochemical tests for hereditary disorders, hearing assessments, and cardiac screening for critical congenital heart defects. These tests are conducted on a small blood sample collected from every newborn and analysed in accredited National Reference Laboratories within the UAE. Confirmatory tests are usually carried out domestically, though exceptions may require approval for overseas testing.
All screening results are integrated into the Riayati national unified medical record platform, facilitating timely and accurate clinical responses. Health facilities where births occur are required to contract with authorized reference laboratories approved by MoHAP to ensure standardized testing.
Additional screening tests beyond those listed in the National Guidelines are not permitted without approval and certification from the National Newborn Screening Committee. The Health Regulation Sector has issued circulars to unify implementation across public and private healthcare providers, ensuring consistent screening protocols nationwide and raising community awareness.
In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health has launched a Newborn Genetic Screening Programme offering whole genome sequencing to screen for over 815 treatable childhood genetic conditions. This programme, conducted voluntarily with parental consent, tests newborns' cord blood at select hospitals, with plans to expand across the emirate.
This comprehensive framework reflects a national strategic priority to safeguard newborn health, promote early disease detection, and align with global best practices in preventive and precision healthcare. The system enhances patient safety, improves efficiency, and supports informed clinical decision-making. Private hospitals are identified as strategic partners in achieving national healthcare objectives.
Riayati, a digital healthcare platform, plays a key role in the initiative by providing an integrated database for automation, health data management, and real-time patient record access. The programme aims for a standardised approach for early detection and prevention of complications, following strict procedures, standards, and regulatory frameworks defined by the Health Regulation Sector.
In summary, the UAE's newborn screening system offers a unified network of hospitals nationwide, supported by specialised reference laboratories, providing integrated, standardized, and cutting-edge preventive care for newborns.
- The comprehensive newborn screening system in the UAE, driven by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Health Regulation Sector, aims to safeguard newborn health, aligning with global best practices in preventive healthcare by early detection and prevention of medical-conditions.
- The system, with its focus on health-and-wellness, ensures patient safety, improves efficiency, and supports informed clinical decision-making through the integration of tests like biochemical, hearing, and cardiac screening, as well as optional genetic screening, in accredited National Reference Laboratories.
