"As of September 30, 65,410 newborns were screened under the National Neonatal Screening Program (PNRN), 2,173 more than in the same period last year (63,237)," according to data released by the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (INSA).

The data indicates that July recorded the highest number of babies screened (8,118), followed by September (7,886) and January (7,670).

Lisbon was the district with the most heel prick tests (19,891), followed by Porto (11,650), Setúbal (5,229), Braga (4,880), Faro (3,310), and Aveiro (3,058).

The lowest number of tests was observed in the districts of Bragança (420), Portalegre (440), Guarda (489), Vila Real (765), and Castelo Branco (805), according to data from the program coordinated by the National Institute of Health (INSA) through its Neonatal Screening, Metabolism, and Genetics Unit, Department of Human Genetics.

In 2024, 84,631 babies were screened in Portugal, 1,133 fewer than the previous year (85,764).

The National Neonatal Screening Program has been screening all new borns for certain serious diseases since 1979, known as the heel prick test.

Since the inception of the National Neonatal Screening Program, 4,309,181 newborns have been screened, and 2,796 positive cases have been identified.