More dietitians needed in primary health care to ease the burden of preventable diseases on a health system at breaking point

• For every $1 spent on funding dietitians in primary health care, the country will gee a cost saving benefit of $99 over five years
• Up to 24% of GP visits are nutrition-related and could be covered by a dietitian to relieve pressure on the strained GP sector
• More dietitians in an equitable and collaborative primary health care setting are required to meet the growing burden of preventable disease on the population

A first of its kind report in New Zealand found an overwhelming need to include more dietitians in primary health care.