A Ukrainian citizen can open a business with just a few clicks on a smartphone, order medicines using an electronic prescription, and share their vehicle registration certificate through Diia. We are proud to be recognized as one of the most digitalized countries in Europe. Yet as soon as a person is admitted to an inpatient department of most Ukrainian hospitals, they find themselves in a “paper-based” world. Information about allergies, dietary restrictions, or actual food intake is not integrated into digital systems.
Ukraine has launched a reform of hospital nutrition, and we have a unique opportunity to digitalize this process. Together with the team of the Patient Nutrition Academy we studied the experience of hospitals in a number of countries around the world and identified what could be adapted for Ukraine.
Three Solutions for Ukraine from Hospitals Around the World
Global experience shows that digitalization can address three key challenges faced by Ukrainian healthcare every day.
- Safety and Personalization
At Spain’s Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, nutrition is an integral part of a patient’s clinical profile. The system automatically takes into account not only medical diagnoses and allergies, but also religious restrictions and ethical dietary preferences. At Turkey’s Memorial Healthcare Group, the Comed system operates with a database of more than 100 diets. There is no paperwork: the nurse submits the order electronically, the meal tray is labeled with a barcode, and the patient is guaranteed to receive exactly what has been prescribed. In the United States, the MyDining system follows the same logic: nutrition is integrated directly into the medical record, prohibited foods are automatically blocked, and the dietitian can see food intake data in real time and immediately adjust the menu — without waiting for the next medical round.
- Cost Savings and Waste Control
At London’s Royal Brompton Hospital, the Leanpath waste-monitoring system was introduced: a special camera combined with scales automatically records every uneaten portion. Analytics show which dishes patients do not like or where portion sizes are too large. The hospital reduced food waste by 60% — from 3 tonnes to 1.2 tonnes per month.
In Iceland, the Matilda system, which integrates healthcare, logistics, and procurement, has reduced ordering errors by 40%, while waste has decreased by one fifth.
- Service
At the Dutch Flevoziekenhuis, hospital nutrition operates on a room-service model. Patients order food themselves through an app, and the meal is delivered within 40 minutes. The internal database contains the complete nutritional composition and calorie content of every dish.
At London’s Royal Brompton Hospital, patients can choose not only the dish but also the portion size — small, medium, or large. The two-week menu changes seasonally and is developed taking patient feedback into account.
At Stadtspital Triemli in Zurich, Switzerland, patients order meals through the ORGACARD system according to clear deadlines: by 6:30 a.m. for breakfast, 11:00 a.m. for lunch, and 4:00 p.m. for dinner. Every day, four snacks and four main courses are available to choose from.
A Digital Step for Ukraine
All the systems we examined differ in scale, budget, and approach. But they have one thing in common: nutrition has ceased to be a separate administrative function and has become part of the medical process. Food-related data are linked to patient data — and this changes outcomes.
Digitalization can be implemented step by step. An example of an effective first step is the experience of neighboring Poland, where a reform of patient nutrition is currently underway. There, the JedzApka system was created: a patient simply scans a QR code next to their bed and sees a detailed menu on the screen, including calorie content, ingredients, and allergens. They can also track the status of their order and leave feedback. This immediately makes the nutrition system transparent and easy to understand.
Ukraine has all the prerequisites for such a transition. We have well-developed digital infrastructure, an ongoing hospital nutrition reform, and healthcare facilities that are already ready for change.