KAPC seeks world bodys help

KOCHI: The Kerala Association of Physiotherapists Coordination (KAPC) has called upon the members of the World Confederation of Physiotherapy to hold discussions with the Chief Minister to urge him to form a council for physiotherapists in the state.  The association has already sent more than 500 letters to various authorities including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on the issue.Many states, including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat, have already established independent council for physiotherapists.  “In the absence of a government-recognised council there is no mechanism for any kind of regulation in this field. Physiotherapists from the state have no registration.   Hence, any malpractice goes unregistered. At a time when physiotherapy is evolving into an independent medical field this constraint is affecting the credibility of physiotherapists,” KAPC President P Arun Kumar said.Another fallout of the absence of a council is that there are hardly any posts in the government sector for physiotherapists. But owing to the demand and the effectiveness of physiotherapy almost every private hospital has a physiotherapist.  There are only 18 posts for physiotherapists in the government sector. This is as Scientific Assistants under physical medicine. But there is no post of General Physiotherapist in any government hospital in the state.  “In Ernakulam alone there are as many as 500 physiotherapists in private hospitals. But a session costs about `200, making it impossible for most people to avail the services of a physiotherapist. Tamil Nadu has a post of general physiotherapist in all its government hospitals,” Arun Kumar said.Physiotherapists also allege that the absence of a council has meant that they do not have the legal recognition to practice or set up medical clinics. Even the laying down of a syllabus remains unregulated and beyond the control of experts in the field.  “The syllabus of physiotherapy has undergone a sea change. There are new specialisations including Pathomechanics, Kinesiology and Ergonomics. But the situation in the state today is such that the syllabus is controlled by Allopathic doctors.  This interference is evident even in the the Board  of Studies of Physiotherapy at the Kerala University  of Health Sciences (KUHS),” Board of Studies of  Physiotherapy member Dr Suhas P said.