RESUMEN
Patients suffering from intestinal failure can receive home parenteral nutrition in several countries of the world since the end of the 1960s. In Hungary, intestinal failure patients can receive parenteral nutrition only in hospital, even if they can live in family or they are capable to work under certain circumstances because the present health financial system and legal environment do not allow home parenteral nutrition. This system is extremely uneconomical, reserves hospital beds and is opposing the European practice. Based on literature of recent years, the authors reviewed the life expectancy, the quality of life of patients receiving home parenteral nutrition and the frequency of complications and home parenteral nutrition systems applied worldwide. The specialized knowledge needed for home parenteral nutrition is entirely available, the solutions and technical supports are ready in the Hungarian market. Professionals committed to nutrition therapy have initiated academic collaboration among specialties to arrange the poorly handled questions of home parenteral nutrition and to establish the home parenteral nutrition system in Hungary.