Status of the Dietitian-Nutritionist in the Spanish National Health System: Statement of the Specialization Group in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics of the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Abstract

In Spain, the 44/2003 law on health professions, considers the Dietitian-Nutritionist (DN) a health professional since 2003. This regulation with the force of law qualifies this professional as the reference health expert in the dietetic-nutritional treatment. However, so far, the presence of this collective in the Spanish public health field has been limited, despite multiple studies that support the cost-benefit of these professionals within the National Health System (SNS). In improvement visas, the first stance statement on the incorporation of the DN collective within the Spanish SNS was made in 2009. Now, after a decade, it is necessary to assess the degree regarding the incorporation of the collective, so the specialization Group in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics of the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics issues this position paper to update the situation of the DN within the SNS.