The Hindu : New Delhi News : Physiotherapists protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Physiotherapists protest

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 21. Physiotherapists from all over the country held a peaceful march today in the Capital to raise their concern over the proposed Paramedical and Physiotherapy Council Bill, 2004, to be presented for discussion in Parliament.

The march organised by the Indian Association of Physiotherapists started from Ramlila Grounds and ended at Jantar Mantar.

The 12,800- member association has for the past 50 years been responsible for regulation of education and practice in the field of physiotherapy in the country.

In a statement, the Association said not only was the nomenclature of the Bill misleading, but the Bill actually goes against their interests and may degrade the quality of physiotherapy in the country.

According to president of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists, S. Prabhu, "the title of the Bill should be `Physiotherapy Council of India Bill 2004,' instead of `Paramedical and Physiotherapy Councils Bill 2004'. Physiotherapy has been regarded as an important system of medicine in various countries. Under the Estimates Committee Report 1982-83, even Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has accepted its professional status. How then can we belittle the science by clubbing it with paramedics like lab technicians and radiology technicians.''

The convenor of the Association's Council Act Committee, Bela Sethi, said: "On the lines of the Medical Council, Dental Council, Nursing Council, and councils for various Indian systems of medicine, we have been demanding a separate Council for Physiotherapy for a long time.''

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