A bill has been proposed to mandate the placement of clinical nutritionists in hospital-level medical institutions.

Rep. Jeon Hyun-hee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, recently introduced an amendment bill to the Medical Service Act that contains such provisions.

The revision bill adds a provision requiring hospital-level medical institutions to mandatorily place clinical nutritionists. The aim is to provide systematic nutrition management by utilizing specialized personnel in nutrition management and to ensure patients' right to health. The criteria for assigning clinical nutritionists will be determined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, taking into account the type and size of the medical institution.

According to the current National Nutrition Management Act, the Minister of Health and Welfare may grant clinical nutritionist qualifications to nutritionists who perform tasks such as nutritional assessment, nutritional counseling, and nutrient monitoring and evaluation for health management, in addition to their nutritionist license.

However, while the law requires that medical institutions, including general hospitals, hospitals, dental hospitals, oriental medicine hospitals, and nursing hospitals with inpatient facilities, employ at least one nutritionist, there are no specific standards for the deployment of clinical nutritionists, who perform more specialized tasks in the field of nutrition management.

“In a situation where chronic diseases and nutritional imbalances are increasing due to population aging and changes in disease patterns, clinical nutritionists provide essential nutritional management for disease prevention and treatment,” Rep Jeon said. “I hope that patients will receive proper nutritional management and their right to health will be guaranteed, as this will also contribute to reducing medical expenses and improving the quality of life for the public.”