PESHAWAR: Pakistan Physical Therapy Association (PPTA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, has called for approval of a comprehensive service structure for physiotherapists, formation of an independent physiotherapy council and creation of regular posts in publicsector healthcare institutions across the province.
The demands were made at a physical therapy convention held at Nishtar Hall here, attended by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi as the chief guest, and health minister Khalig ur Rehman as the guest of honour.
More than 5,000 doctors of physical therapy from across the province participated in the convention,along with physiotherapists, academicians, researchers, entrepreneurs and rehabilitation professionals.
PPTA president Dr Pirzada Khattak called for approval and implementation of a comprehensive service structure for physiotherapists covering allcadres and grades, with a clear career and promotion structure.
He also demanded the formation of an independent physiotherapy council to regulate the profession and ensure implementation of the approved scope of physiotherapy practice.
Mr Khattak sought the creation of regular physiotherapy posts in all public-sector universities, MTI, DHQ and THQ hospitals and rehabilitation centres across the province. He also demanded regularisa-tion of district-level contractual physiotherapists, many of whom, he said, had been serving communities for severalyears.
The association’s chief pointed out that a number of these therapists were women providing rehabilitation services in underserved areas.
He also demanded the independent registration of physiotherapyclinics with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission in accordance with the approved scope of physiotherapy practice.
PPTA’s spokesman Dr Babar Wardak called for paid house jobs for physiotherapy graduates in all government and private institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying this would provide graduateswith structured clinical training and improve their professional prospects.
He asked for inclusion of physiotherapy services in Sehat Card Plus, arguing that many patients, particularly those with disabilities and chronic conditions, require multiple sessions of physiotherapy that can be difficult for families to afford.The governor and the health minister assured the participants that the genuine demands raised by the physiotherapy community would be taken up with the relevant provincialandfederalauthorities.
They acknowledged the growing role of physiotherapy and rehabilitation in healthcare and appreciated the participation of thousands of students and professionals.