Summary.
The bill seeks to regulate the practice of the Nutritionist-Dietitian profession in the public and private sectors and establish a career scale for practitioners in public institutions, boards of trustees, autonomous, semi-autonomous and municipal entities, and organizations that provide services to the State. It defines a Nutritionist-Dietitian as a university-trained health professional holding professional authorization, qualified to apply knowledge of food and nutrition to health promotion, disease prevention, nutritional treatment and rehabilitation, research, and teaching.
Professional activities include directing, planning, supervising, evaluating, and advising on food and nutrition programs. They also include assessing individuals and population groups, making nutritional diagnoses, prescribing diets, nutritional supplements, and laboratory orders, preparing dietary plans, providing guidance, following up on nutritional therapy or recommendations, and referring individuals to other health professionals when necessary. The bill covers management of hospital nutrition services, including enteral formula laboratories, and food services in educational institutions, childcare centers, correctional facilities, older adult care centers, factories, and other entities. It also covers nutrition education, research, teaching, public communication, and advice to the food industry, including food labeling.
To practice, a person would need Panamanian nationality, a recognized university degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or its equivalent, and professional authorization granted by the Health Technical Council (Consejo Técnico de Salud) of the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud). An application would require identity and birth documents, a diploma and academic transcript, professional certification, a letter to the Nutrition and Dietetics Technical Committee (Comité Técnico de Nutrición y Dietética) containing the applicant’s details, and a power of attorney addressed to the Health Technical Council.
The bill creates the Nutrition and Dietetics Technical Committee to advise on matters concerning the profession. Its membership includes public health representatives from the Ministry of Health, members of the Panamanian Association of Nutritionists-Dietitians, a representative of the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social), and a lecturer from the School of Nutrition and Dietetics (Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética) of the University of Panama (Universidad de Panamá). A legal adviser from the Ministry of Health participates with speaking rights only. Each member has an alternate from the same institution, appointed by the principal member; association-appointed members serve for two (2) years. The Committee adopts its rules, oversees compliance with the law, keeps a register of authorized professionals, and recommends the approval or revocation of professional authorizations to the Health Technical Council. The proposal therefore concerns those public bodies, practitioners, hospitals, food services, educational and care facilities, and the food industry.
What it proposes.
- Practice of the Nutritionist-Dietitian profession.
- Career scale in entities providing services to the State.
- Requirements for practice and professional authorization.
- Membership and functions of the Nutrition and Dietetics Technical Committee.
Who it would affect.
- Nutritionists-Dietitians and applicants for professional authorization.
- Public institutions and organizations providing services to the State.
- Hospitals and other facilities operating food services.
- Members of the Nutrition and Dietetics Technical Committee.
Key points.
- Proposes regulation of public and private professional practice and a career scale in entities connected with services to the State.Art. 1
- Defines the Nutritionist-Dietitian as a university-trained health professional holding professional authorization and describes the fields of practice.Art. 2
- Includes nutritional assessment; dietary, supplement, and laboratory prescriptions; food service management; teaching; research; and advice to industry among professional activities.Art. 3
- Requires Panamanian nationality, a recognized university degree, and authorization granted by the Health Technical Council of the Ministry of Health to practice.Art. 4
- Lists the documents, application letter, power of attorney, and professional certification required to obtain authorization.Art. 5
- Creates the Nutrition and Dietetics Technical Committee with institutional, professional, and academic representatives.Art. 6
- Provides an alternate for each Committee member and a two (2) year term for members appointed by the professional association.Arts. 7-8
- Assigns the Committee rulemaking, oversight, registration, and recommendation duties concerning approval or revocation of professional authorizations.Art. 9