The draft resolution has been presented for public discussion by the Ministry of Health of the country.
The main goal of the screening is to prevent the birth of children with genetic pathologies, as well as to reduce the level of childhood morbidity, disability, and mortality. This will be achieved through early diagnosis and support for pregnant women who are at risk for fetal pathologies.
The screening system will use biochemical and ultrasound methods in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Women at high risk will be referred for more detailed examination and genetic counseling. If necessary, the diagnosis will be confirmed using invasive diagnostics. Screening should be conducted within strictly established timeframes — 11-13 weeks and 18-21 weeks, as deviation from these timelines may reduce the accuracy of results and limit intervention opportunities.
In each region, it is planned to create specialized screening centers based in major medical institutions, which will be equipped with modern ultrasound machines and automatic biochemical analyzers. These centers will conduct screening for all pregnant women in the region.
A digital registration system will allow for monitoring the status of each pregnant woman, tracking examination timelines, and preventing loss of clinical contact. All data will be consolidated into a single database accessible to obstetricians-gynecologists and neonatologists.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the effectiveness of prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal and anatomical anomalies in the fetus is achieved only through comprehensive examination (ultrasound and biochemical screening) within the established timelines and provided that the examination is conducted by certified medical personnel undergoing annual external audits (FMF).
"It is worth noting that in more than 100 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, there are state-funded prenatal screening programs that allow for the timely detection of syndromes such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, as well as heart defects and other serious congenital diseases," the statement notes.
