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Shaping physiotherapy for future

Shaping physiotherapy for futurePhysiotherapy is an integral part of modern medical science to keep the patients fit, active and healthy those who suffer pain, paralysis, disabilities, arthritis, and movement related disorders and disability. With the increase of non-communicable diseases including diabetes, pain, paralysis, stroke, cancer etc., the demand and application of physiotherapy has been increasing rapidly.
Physical therapists help people maximise their quality of life, looking at physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. They work in the health spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment / intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation.
Unfortunately, physiotherapy in Bangladesh has not yet got the recognition it deserves. World Physiotherapy Day which is going to be observed today is an excellent opportunity to make people and policymaker about the importance of physiotherapy. This year, the day is being observed with the slogan “Fit for the future” pointing to the many ways individuals of all ages may gain or regain physical fitness, range of motion and mobility.
In Bangladesh, university graduate physiotherapists have been practicing and providing this service since 1971 started with treatment and rehabilitation for war victims. Despite some development of this discipline, physiotherapists have been still facing discrimination and severely prejudiced by the all segments of in professional life.
Since the introduction of medical degree in physiotherapy in 1973, Physiotherapists have been refused registration status despite being qualified medical practitioners.
Due to discriminatory treatment of the government, Physiotherapists are denied form the right to livelihood as well as freedom of profession or occupation as guaranteed in articles 32 and 40 of the constitution and prejudiced to refuse to as registered status.
Although the profession in Bangladesh has already passed more than 50 years, still there is no authority to regulate it. Many people are being treated by quacks (without degree) and are frequently victimised. Authority concerned is still turning blind eye on it. But there is dire need to take urgent initiatives to provide proper physiotherapy treatment for millions of patients.
Physiotherapists provide services that develop, maintain and restore people’s maximum movement and functional ability. They can help people at any stage of life, when movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors. Thus, it is essential to frame appropriate and necessary regulations under the BMDC Act to give due recognition to the physiotherapists.

Source - The Daily Star