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The delivery of genetic services in developing countries is faced with significant challenges, despite medical and technological advances globally. The Philippines, being an archipelago, faces even more challenges, with significant disparities in access to healthcare, and tertiary medical centers and specialists being concentrated in the major cities. The utilization of different networks for the integration of genetic services in the existing public health delivery system has been valuable. Using the well-established network of the national newborn screening program, genetic services have been successfully integrated into the delivery of healthcare, even at the grassroot level. Equitable access to healthcare, including genetic services, was highlighted and supported by the enactment of the Rare Disease Law in 2016. The support of the academe to assure the sustainability of services was evident in the establishment of a genetic counseling program to augment the work of a handful of clinical geneticists. Professional societies and support groups have been instrumental in identifying genetic conditions to be prioritized and lobbying for increased public awareness, leading to national programs and policies. This paper primarily discusses the value of networks in the delivery of genetic services, specifically newborn screening, programs for rare diseases, birth defects, and genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) is an electrographic pattern associated with specific genetic disorders, brain malformations, and use of some antiseizure medications. This case report aims to present the management of ESES in Sotos syndrome (SoS) on carbamazepine. A nine-year-old Filipino male with clinical features suggestive of overgrowth syndrome presented with febrile seizure at one year old. Cranial imaging showed cavum septum pellucidum, corpus callosal dysgenesis, and ventriculomegaly. He was on carbamazepine monotherapy starting at three years old. A near continuous diffuse spike-wave discharges in slow wave sleep was recorded at nine years old hence shifted to valproic acid. Follow-up study showed focal epileptiform discharges during sleep with disappearance of ESES. Next generation sequencing tested positive for rare nonsense mutation of nuclear receptor binding set-domain protein 1 confirming the diagnosis of SoS. Advanced molecular genetics contributed to determination of ESES etiologies. To date, this is the first documented case of SoS developing ESES. Whether an inherent genetic predisposition or drug-induced, we recommend the avoidance of carbamazepine and use of valproic acid as first-line therapy., Competing Interests: All authors declared no conflicts of interest. The corresponding author secured the consent from the parent of the patient for the publication of the report., (© 2024 Acta Medica Philippina.)