Here's how Scotland can lead the UK in preventing birth defects
IN January 2016, our previous Public Health Minister announced, with barely a ripple, that Scotland might “go it alone” in preventing some birth defects by adding Vitamin B9 (folic acid) to wheat flour. The rationale is the ability of this measure to prevent Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) and therefore many terminations, miscarriages and children born with disabilities. For more than 20 years, the UK Government and Westminster Parliament have been inert, while 80 other countries have safely and successfully enacted this public health measure. On the surface, little seemed to happen recently. But, as with ducks, there has been serious paddling underneath during the past two years.
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