Patient malnutrition reduces the chances of recovery and increases treatment costs

Inadequate nutrition is a major problem across many patient groups, irrespective of age, disease or healthcare setting. Malnutrition reduces the chance of recovery and leads to increased incidence of complications and the loss of independence. Malnutrition and under nutrition in Europe threatens more than 33 million adults and the impact on health costs has been estimated to be €170 billion per year in Europe.

"Malnutrition and inadequate nutritional support greatly reduce or even negate the efficacy of the often expensive therapy of the underlying disease. Inadequate nutrition also raises the patient’s dependency on social care support which ultimately reduces the quality of hospital care and medical costs increase disproportionately” said Pavel Tesinsky, chairman of the Society for clinical metabolic maintenance and intensive care.

​ONCA

The Optimal Nutritional Care for All (ONCA) program was developed with the support of the European Parliament in 2010-2011, and has been operating since 2014. It focuses on:

• improving health through prevention and health care programs• promoting public and private sector cooperation in nutrition and health across Europe• integrating nutrition as an integral part of health and healthcare• creating continuous innovation by sharing good practices among European countries

The ONCA workshop identifies best practices to achieve the necessary changes in public health and health care practice across Europe. "The key challenge is how can we translate scientific evidence and policy support into better nutrition and nutritional care in daily health care practice.

The full press release from the ONCA workshop, which took place in Prague on 19 May 2017, can be read here.