Section 11Sec./Art. 11

Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening. - To ensure sustained inter-agency collaboration, the Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening is hereby created and made an integral part of the Office of the Secretary of the DOH. The Committee shall review annually and recommend conditions to be included in the newborn screening panel of disorders; review and recommend the newborn screening fee to be charged by Newborn Screening Centers; review the report of the Newborn Screening Reference Center on the quality assurance of the National Screening Centers and recommend corrective measures as deemed necessary.

The Committee shall be composed of eight (8) members, including the Secretary of Health who shall act as Chairman. The other members of the Committee shall be as follows: (i) the Executive Director of the NIH, who shall act as Vice Chairperson; (ii) an Undersecretary of the DILG; (iii) the Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children (iv) the Director of the Newborn Screening Reference Center; and (v) three (3) representatives appointed by the Secretary of Health who shall be a pediatrician, obstetrician, endocrinologist, family physician, nurse or midwife, from either the public or private sector. The three (3) representatives shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, subject to their being reappointed for additional three (3) years period for each extension.

The Committee shall meet at least twice a year. The NIH shall serve as the Secretariat of the Committee.