The establishment by the Government of a neo-natal screening programme for cystic fibrosis will have a major impact on the quality and longevity of Irish people with the disease, a leading international pioneer of the technique has said.
American expert Prof Philip Farrell said the establishment of a neo-natal programme in Ireland would lead to a marked improvement in the quality of life as it would help people suffering to lead healthier and longer lives.
Before delivering his paper at the conference, Prof Farrell, from the school of medicine and public health at the University of Wisconsin, explained how the introduction of neo-natal screening for the CF gene has had a huge impact on the lives of American CF sufferers.