Abstract

BENITEZ BRITO, Néstor. The Dietitian-Nutritionist within the Spanish National Health System: facing hospital malnutrition. Rev Esp Nutr Hum Diet [online]. 2017, vol.21, n.2, pp.199-208. ISSN 2174-5145.  https://dx.doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.21.2.248.

Dietitian-Nutritionist is considered a health professional in Spain according to the Law 44/2003 on the Organization of Health Professions. However, these professionals have come across some problems in order to exercise their activity in the health sector, especially in hospitals. On the other hand, the European Union developed the necessity of a nutritional care on a mandatory basis in hospitals, through the Council of Europe in 2003. Among the most relevant measures are those to identify and prevent the causes of malnutrition and the searching of a comprehensive training for the Dietitian-Nutritionist to have a better approach in the nutritional attention and support. Despite these guidelines, Spain is the only country within the European Union that does not have incorporated these professionals in their health services in the most of Autonomous Communities. Thus, the inclusion of professional Dietitian-Nutritionists into the Spanish hospital network would further contribute to the detection, assessment, and treatment of malnutrition, improve the cost-effectiveness ratio in treatment, increase life quality in patients, and achieve a public health support on efficient equal terms.

Keywords : Nutritionists; Health Services; Health Manpower; Malnutrition; Hospitals.

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