Advocacy group Universal Healthcare (UHC) Watch welcomed the progress of Senate Bill No. 1213 or the Wastong Nutrisyon sa Ospital Act, which was read on First Reading and referred to the Committees on Health and Demography and Finance last September 15, 2025.
The measure seeks to institutionalize the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) as part of medical care in the Philippines.
‘Poor nutrition leads to longer hospital stays, bigger expenses for families, hospital congestion, and in the worst cases, death. This is a reality already happening across the country,’ the group emphasized.
In a forum organized by the think tank Stratbase Institute, health advocates from public and private sectors underscored the need for enhanced nutrition care in hospitals nationwide. The think tank’s policy paper on the NCP emphasized that the successful implementation of the NCP in the Philippines is crucial to improving the nutritional status and health outcomes of the population.
It also noted that addressing the various challenges requires multi-faceted approaches that span institutional preparation, inter-professional collaboration, resource allocation, and patient centered care.
With this, UHC Watch hailed the filing of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1213 by Senator JV Ejercito and
House Bill No. (HBN) 3806 by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao
Party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., calling the move a potential game-changer in making Philippine healthcare more people-centered.
The proposed measures seek to institutionalize the NCP as an essential part of medical treatment, ensuring that patients receive not only medicine but also the proper nutrition needed to recover and live healthier lives.
Senator Ejercito, in his explanatory note, emphasized the alignment of the measure with global development priorities.
‘The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), a framework gearing toward the growth and sustainability of developing and developed countries, includes the objective to ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’ among their seventeen (17) overall goals. This direction recognizes that proper nutrition is a critical part of physical health and overall well-being,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Reps. Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. echoed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) stance on the crucial role of nutrition in health outcomes.
‘This bill aims to enhance current laws by mandating the implementation of the Nutrition Care Process, an internationally recognized standard approach for practitioners in nutrition and dietetics. With this measure, Filipinos will gain access to effective tools for recovering from illnesses and significantly improving their quality of life, all in a cost-efficient manner.’
Also known as the ‘Wastong Nutrisyon sa Ospital Act,’ the proposed measure introduces a standardized, evidence-based approach to nutrition care, covering assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and follow-up. It mandates hospitals to screen all admitted patients using a Department of Health (DOH)-approved tool to identify those who are ‘nutritionally at risk.’
For the UHC Watch, the stakes are high if the measure is not passed.
‘Good nutrition is often overlooked, yet it plays a critical role in preventing complications and reducing the burden on our healthcare system,’ UHC Watch said. ‘You need proper nutrients to recover. When a patient has proper nutrition, hospital stays are shorter, families spend less, and hospitals can serve more patients.’
Beyond hospital care, UHC Watch emphasized that the measure also supports the advocacy for healthy aging in the Philippines.
‘By incorporating proper nutrition into healthcare, children can reach their full growth potential, adults can maintain their productivity, and older adults can experience a higher quality of life as they age. Promoting healthy aging begins with early attention to nutrition. This bill empowers healthcare providers to promote wellness across all life stages, not just when people are sick.’
Composed of patients and civil society organizations, UHC Watch underscored that nutrition care is an issue of equity, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients with chronic illnesses.
‘When nutrition is neglected, the most vulnerable suffer the most. By passing this bill, Congress is sending a message that every Filipino’s health matters. More than a healthcare reform, the NCP bill is a promise of better lives for millions of Filipinos.’