Group urges passage of bill institutionalizing standard nutrition care

MANILA, Philippines — The nutrition and dietetics (ND) regulatory board and several other health organizations called on Congress to push for institutionalized nutrition care in public and private hospitals nationwide.

The group emphasized the need for a standardized Nutrition Care Process (NCP) in hospital management in hospitals across the country through the passage of House Bill No. 3806 and Senate Bill No. 1213, also known as the proposed “Wastong Nutrisyon sa Ospital Act,”

The measures seek to institutionalize NCP as a mandatory component for inpatient and outpatient care in all public and private healthcare facilities. 

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READ: Health advocates pushing for enhanced nutrition care in hospitals

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“Good nutrition care is part of making sure patients recover properly and are able to leave the hospital when they are clinically ready,” Dr. Ma. Socorro Ignacio, chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board of Nutrition and Dietetics, expressed this in a separate statement.

“If we can prevent complications and support faster recovery, we can also help make better use of limited hospital beds,” she added.

The group called on the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and the House Committee on Health to deliberate the bills inclusively with concerned groups and stakeholders.

It then emphasized the vital roles of Registered Nutritionist-Dietitians (RND) and suggested for them to be considered as the primary providers of hospital nutrition care and medical nutrition therapy.

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It further recommended institutionalized nutrition referral pathways, updating standards for RNDs and the inclusion of inpatient and outpatient nutrition services in PhilHealth accreditation standards and benefit packages.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that 89.5 percent of 76 surveyed DOH hospitals implemented the NCP, as of April 2026. However, according to the ND group, “compliance varied by hospital level.”

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It cited that compliance was highest at level 3 hospitals, while lowest was at level 1 hospitals.

The group, moreover, emphasized concerns of manpower shortages among healthcare facilities, coordination of health professionals, inadequate training and orientation, incomplete clinical information and inconsistent diet orders, among others.

It emphasized that, “nutrition care should not be treated as an ancillary hospital service, particularly because malnutrition among patients can contribute to complications, longer hospital stays, delayed recovery, readmission and higher mortality,”

Moreover, they also urged hospitals to integrate the NCP into electronic medical records, as well as prioritize nutrition services in financial planning and procurement.

It also called on private and public medical centers to provide adequate support for specialized nutrition meals and establish nutrition and dietetics services.

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“A more consistent system can help identify nutritional risks earlier, provide timely intervention and support better recovery.” Dr. Liezl Atienza, director of the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, said. /mr