Health groups push Congress to mandate standardized nutrition care in hospitals

MANILA — The Nutrition and Dietetics Regulatory Board and several health organizations have called on Congress to pass legislation mandating standardized nutrition care protocols in hospitals throughout the Philippines. The groups argue that establishing a uniform Nutrition Care Process (NCP) framework across public and private healthcare facilities is essential for improving patient outcomes and ensuring quality care standards. The proposed measure would require hospitals nationwide to adopt consistent approaches to nutritional assessment, planning, and intervention as part of their clinical management systems. Proponents emphasized that nutrition care remains a critical yet often overlooked component of comprehensive hospital treatment, particularly for patients with complex medical conditions. The health organizations have urged lawmakers to prioritize passage of the proposed bill to strengthen nutrition services and establish enforceable standards that would benefit Filipino patients across the healthcare system.