• Nazia Mumtaz, Muhammad Naveed Babur, and Ghulam Saqulain.
• Dr. Nazia Mumtaz, PhD (Rehabilitation Sciences), In Charge Post Graduate Programs, Allied Health Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2019 Nov 1; 35 (6): 1674-1679.

ObjectivesTo explore the Barriers and Priorities accorded to neo-natal hearing screening at government health policy level.MethodsThis exploratory descriptive study design employed qualitative parameters with purposive sampling and was conducted at Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD) and Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSR&C) from June 2015 to January 2017 over a period of 18 months. Sample included stakeholders concerned with healthcare planning and policy making in Pakistan. Research included in depth interviews using a self-structured interview guide from three policy makers' fulfilling the selection criteria. Data recorded was transcribed and thematic analyses drawn manually and verified using two separate coders.ResultsOutcomes from thematic analysis drawn were Planning, Funding, Governance, Awareness, Medical and technical capacity building, Policy development, Evaluation and Sustainability. Lack of financial resources allocation due to policies and legislation top the list of barriers. The lack of research and reliable data as to the number of persons suffering from hearing loss (HL) from birth and its economic cost to the state and individual remains a policy barrier.ConclusionThe barriers to NHS are lack of financial resource allocation by the federal government, and lack of research and reliable statistics about Hearing Impairment (HI) and its economic cost.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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