Adequate nutrition enhances patient outcome

Adequate nutrition plays a crucial role at all life stages. It fortifies the immune system, empowering it to effectively fight infections and various illnesses, ultimately resulting in better health outcomes and an overall enhanced quality of life.

Addressing malnutrition in hospitals leads to enhanced patient care, improved clinical outcomes, and potential cost reduction in hospitalization. These positive patient outcomes result in shorter admission periods.

In 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) took a significant step toward enhancing the quality of medical-nutrition care in Philippine health facilities by issuing an Order on the Guidelines for the Implementation of Nutrition Care Process in Hospitals. This policy applies to both public and private hospitals, emphasizing the importance of ensuring quality nutrition care of admitted patients.

By adhering to these guidelines, healthcare providers can better address patients’ nutritional needs that will eventually contribute to their overall well-being.

In a hybrid roundtable discussion titled ‘Strengthening Nutrition Integration in the Health System: Evaluating the Nutrition Care Process in the Philippines,’ which was organized by the international think tank Stratbase Institute in partnership with Universal Health Care (UHC) Watch, representatives from various sectors came together. Participants included officials from the Department of Health, the Board of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), healthcare professionals, academics, civil society organizations, and patient advocates.

In her keynote speech, DOH Undersecretary Emmie Liza Perez-Chiong mentioned that, “the effective implementation of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a crucial component of comprehensive patient care, signifying a commitment to the ongoing quality development within Philippine healthcare facilities.”

Hon. Virgith Buena, Chair of the PRC’s Board of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized that NCP is mandated by the Nutrition and Dietetics Law (Republic Act 10862), and that Registered Nutritionist-Dietitians (RNDs) play a crucial role in assessing patients’ nutritional requirements and creating