Government of Kerala has initiated a comprehensive screening programme for birth defects among new-borns (within 48 hours of birth) as envisaged in the national Child Health Policy. This includes all components of newborn screening and intervention packages, viz. visible birth defects, metabolic defects, hearing impairment, and congenital heart defects.

The programme covers all 98 government delivery nodes and simultaneously initiate care protocols for each child identified with birth defects.