Slovakia is in the process of starting routine newborn screening for SMA. The Children's University Hospital in Banská Bystrica, which is the only facility to carry out genetic screening in Slovakia, has been contracted from 1^st January 2024 to screen all newborns for two diseases: SMA and SCID, in addition to the 27 disorders that all newborns are already being screened for.

Approximately 6 children are diagnosed with SMA in Slovakia every year.

https://spravy.rtvs.sk/2024/01/skrining-dokaze-u-deti-predvidat-dalsie-dve-choroby-lekari-tak-dokazu-zasiahnut-vcas/

Newborn Screening for SMA is now available in Ireland. The Irish SMA HTA was published this week and is available in our ressources section.

We are very happy to share that the Ministry of Health of Luxembourg has confirmed that starting on 1/1/2024, all newborns born in the country will be screened for SMA.
 

https://sante.public.lu/fr/agenda/2023/11/formation-atrophie-musculaire-spinale.html

Currently, newborns there are screened only for five disorders. Spinal Muscular Atrophy will be the sixth one.

The drug Spinraza, used to treat the neurodegenerative disease SMA, has been approved for the treatment of adults in October 2023. So far, it has only been approved for use by children. For more information please click here.