Physiotherapy
Council Important Information/Suggestion for Physiotherapists
Suggestions for creating an Independent Physiotherapy Council Bill and to
Exclude Physiotherapy from the Proposed Allied and Healthcare Professional’s
Central Council Bill, 2015
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is Seeking Comments/Feedback from
stakeholders on “The Allied and Healthcare Professional’s Central Council Bill, 2015” (Last
date for sending comments is 31st October, 2015 -Date has been Extended by 1 Week)
Comments may be furnished through Feedback on
dirahs-mohfw@gov.in
Requesting all
Physiotherapists to take part in this cause by sending the suggestions and
Comments.
For further details and supporting Documents send me a mail @ einsympt@gmail.com
The Allied and Healthcare Professional’s
Central Council Bill, 2015
Sub:
Suggestions for creating an Independent Physiotherapy Council Bill and to
Exclude Physiotherapy from the Proposed Allied and Healthcare Professional’s
Central Council Bill, 2015
With the reference to the notification in the Ministry of Health and Family
welfare “Draft Version 15.0_1 Oct Sep 2015” I am hereby forwarding my views
& suggestions related with creating an creating an Independent
Physiotherapy Council Bill and to Exclude Physiotherapy from the Proposed
Allied and Healthcare Professional’s Central Council Bill, 2015
The National Knowledge Commission (NKC)
"8.3 Allied
Specialties: Allied Specialties as different from Para-medicals and nursing are
– Physiotherapy and Dental Professions. These need to be studied and discussed
separately”
(Page 62 of The National Knowledge
Commission (NKC) , Established by the
Honl. Prime Minster of India in 2005)"
Findings of the Planning Commission of India (2007-2012):
Point number 3.1.104 states that “In the field of
paramedical education, priority will be given for establishment of National
Para Medical Council as an apex body to determine standards and to ensure
uniform enforcement throughout the country. On similar lines, councils for
physiotherapy and occupational therapy should also be established”
(Reference: Page 84 and 85 –Eleventh Five year Plan (2007-2012)-Volume
II-Planning Commission of India)
Government of India
Notifications
1. During
the year 1998/99 following three categories were notified vide Govt. Of India
Notification No. 674 dated 13.10.98 for inclusion under the Council &
subsequently same were withdrawn (through their Notification dated the 25th
June, 1999) from the purview of the Council as Ministry of Health was planning
to have a separate Council for Physiotherapists
(Reference: Page 10 Ten years of progress -RCI-Towards
Nation building-Dr. J. P. Singh-Rehabilitation Council of India)
2. The Director General of Health Sciences
received a note on 17.04.2008 from the then Hon’ble Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajapyee observing
that after going through the contents of the bill of Physiotherapy Central
Council, it is felt that the profession of Physiotherapy is strongly required
for the society in contest of the trend of their involvement in the Health Care
Delivery. These professionals are qualified enough to undertake the protocols
of their system i.e. Physiotherapeutic system of medicine there by conserve as
an independent practitioner within their ambit. it is felt that the objectives
of the proposed bill shall be best fulfill in the public interest only when the
proposed Physiotherapy Central Council is constituted as an autonomous and
professionally represented body.
3. The
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare sought approval of the Hon’ble Minister
for Health & Family Welfare for introducing a Bill to constitute a separate
Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy Council in contrast to the proposal of
earlier bill entitled “Paramedical and Physiotherapy Council Bill” approved by
the Cabinet on 17-9-2004. Accordingly, the comments were offered relating to
the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Councils Bill, 2006. As per the
directions of DGHS, the documents of Physical Therapy Board, California,
U.S.A., Government of Navascotia, Canada and Prince Edward Isaland College of
Physiotherapy, Newzealand were reviewed
and found that there is a regulatory mechanism is available in each of the
country having mechanism. Accordingly, it is submitted that in India also a
regulatory mechanism for the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy is required
to be adopted.
Documentation about
Physiotherapy in the Thirty-First report on Paramedical and Physiotherapy
Central Councils Bill-2007 (Presented to the Rajya Sabha on 21st
October,2008 and laid on the table of Lok Sabha on 21st
October,2008):
Clause
8.2
“Physiotherapy being considered a discipline
distinct from paramedical disciplines finds a specific
mention in the title (Paramedical
and Physiotherapy Central Councils Act, 2007)”
Clause 9.36 Committee’s attention was also drawn to the
parallel position of Naturopathy and Yoga when compared with physiotherapy as
both were based on physical and psycho-somatic methods of diagnosis and
treatment, with both claiming benefit to the patients in a drugless manner. It
was argued that both Naturopathy and Yoga are granted equal status along with
Ayurveda under AYUSH. Thus,
physiotherapy also deserved to be granted an independent status.
Clause
9.46 “The fact that physiotherapy education over the years
has made significant advancements and has evolved as a distinct profession
seems to be well established. This is
strengthened by the considered opinion of Ministry of Law that physiotherapy
profession should not be equated with the paramedical professions”
Clause 9.47 “The Committee also takes note of the fact as mentioned by the
representative of the Ministry that in USA, physiotherapy profession has
reached a stage where these professionals can practise independently. Not only this, in some of the international
Acts, it has been specifically provided that physiotherapists having the
required experience can give physiotherapy treatment without a referral. These Acts also confer upon a physiotherapist the
right to practise with or without referral governed by the circumstances of the
case.”
Clause 25.5 During the course
of interactions, the Committee observed that there was a lot of dissatisfaction
among the allied health professionals particularly physiotherapists and
occupational therapists with regard to their pay scales. It was brought to the
notice of the Committee that their entry into Government service after
completion of four and a half years degree course in the respective profession
was not being addressed properly. The
Committee was given to understand that their recurrent demands for bringing
parity in the pay scales have yielded no results so far. General perception was that discriminatory
treatment was being meted out to them as their pay scales did not commensurate
with their status and responsibility.
Clause 25.6 The Committee feels that all the allied
health professionals including physiotherapists and occupational therapists
play a crucial role in the field of medicine and physical rehabilitation. The
Committee, therefore, strongly recommends that their legitimate interests
should be taken care of and their existing pay structure may be revised
according to their qualifications and duration of the course they have to put
in before entering into a Govt. job.
The findings and documentation of this committee are in favour strong of an independent
status and council for Physiotherapists.
Definitions
of Physiotherapy:
1. Delhi Council for
Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Bill 1997 : “Physiotherapy” means physiotherapeutic system of medicine which
includes examination, treatment, advice and instructions to any persons
preparatory to or for the purpose of or in connection with movement
dysfunction, bodily malfunction, physical disorder, disability, healing and
pain from trauma and disease, physical and mental conditions using physical
agents including exercise, mobilization, manipulation, mechanical and
electrotherapy, activity and devices or diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
(Reference: http://delhiassembly.nic.in/aspfile/billspassed/141997.htm)
2. Maharashtra State OTPT
Council: "Physiotherapy" means a branch
of modern medical science which includes examination, assessment,
interpretation, physical diagnosis, planning and execution of treatment and
advice to any person for the purpose of preventing, correcting, alleviating and
limiting dysfunction, acute and chronic bodily malfunction including life
saving measures via chest physiotherapy in the intensive care units, curing
physical disorders or disability, promoting physical fitness, facilitating
healing and pain relief and treatment of physical and psychosomatic disorders
through modulating physiological and physical response using physical agents,
activities and devices including exercise, mobilization, manipulations,
therapeutic ultrasound, electrical and thermal agents and electrotherapy for
diagnosis , treatment and prevention.
(Reference: http://www.msotptcouncil.com/OTPTActs.aspx )
International References:
1. Definition of Physiotherapy by World Health
Organization which emphasizes on assessment and formulating a treatment plan
independently by Physiotherapists.
"Physiotherapists assess, plan and implement rehabilitative programs
that improve or restore human motor functions, maximize
movement ability, relieve pain syndromes, and treat or
prevent physical challenges associated with injuries, diseases and
other impairments. They apply a broad range of physical therapies and
techniques such as movement, ultrasound, heating, laser and other
techniques. They may develop and implement programmes for screening
and prevention of common physical ailments and disorders"
Reference:http://www.who.int/hrh/statistics/Health_workers_classification.pdf
2.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Physiotherapists:
World Health Organization (WHO) has classified physiotherapists in professional
group (ISCO Code 2264) and paramedical professionals have been classified in a
separate entity ( ISCO code 2240). International
Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) is a tool for organizing jobs
into a clearly defined set of groups according to the tasks and duties
undertaken in the job.
3. World Confederation of Physical
Therapy (WCPT) : Physical therapists are qualified and professionally required
to: -undertake a comprehensive examination/assessment of the patient/client or
needs of a client group -evaluate the findings from the examination/assessment
to make clinical judgments regarding patients/clients -formulate a diagnosis,
prognosis and plan -provide consultation within their expertise and determine
when patients/clients need to be referred to another healthcare professional
-implement a physical therapist intervention/treatment programme -determine the
outcomes of any interventions/treatments -make recommendations for
self-management.
(Reference: http://www.wcpt.org/what-is-physical-therapy)
Hence, an individual Independent Physiotherapy Council
will make recommendations to ensure the standardization of Physiotherapy
Practice and the monitoring of actual performance of Physiotherapists in India
which will be helpful for the improvement in Public Health Sector of India.
Thanking you in advance.
Sincerely,
Einstein Jerome
Physiotherapist,
ESIC Model Hospital (Under Ministry of Labour, Govt of India)
Executive and Medico legal Committee Member of Bangalore Physiotherapists
Network (BPN)
E-Mail: einsympt@gmail.com
Facebook Notes Link: https://www.facebook.com/notes/einstein-jerome/central-physiotherapy-council-important-informationsuggestions-for-physiotherapi/10154433703879897
One Small step by a Physiotherapist can be one
giant leap for Physiotherapy!
More Number of Mails by Physiotherapists and Patients will
fetch us the desired Independent Status. Lets exercise the Democratic Right to
get our Rights!!
