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Ali Farhad

Lecturer

Ziauddin College of Physical Therapy

Ziauddin University

Saad Saleem

Assistant Professor

Ziauddin College of Physical Therapy

Ziauddin University

Zainab Abdul Razzak

Physical therapist

Bantwa Anees Hospital

[Farhad A, Saleem S, Razzak ZA. Back to the Grass Root. Pak. j. rehabil. 2014;3(2):41-43]

Profession is, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride1. Throughout a professional vocation, professionals change the span of their skill, through becoming more specific, through inspiring into recently emergent areas of professional work, or by taking on administration or enlightening positions. They will also be continually developing the quality of their work in a number of areas, beyond the level of proficiency of one’s ability or skill. Professional advancement inculcates a process of incessant development, long-term knowledge, and augmentation, which allow professionals to get better in their practices so as to better serve patients, clients, associations, the profession, and society2. A physical therapist has an enduring professional accountability for maintaining proficiency through ongoing self-assessment, education, and augmentation of information and skills. Physical Therapy, by 2020, will offer such Physiotherapist who are doctors of Physical Therapy and who may be board–licensed experts3. Clients will have direct access to Physical Therapists in all milieus for patient/client management, expectation, and wellness services. Physiotherapist will be practitioners of choice in clients’/patients’ health networks and will hold all rights of autonomous practice4. Physical Therapists may be assisted by Physical Therapy assistants, who are erudite and qualified to provide Physical Therapist–directed and controlled, components of intervention. Physical Therapy profession in Pakistan is rising with a great pace. Every passing minute brings extraordinary revolution in this field and now it is a high time to have some institution takes the responsibility on its shoulder to curtail the nourishing elements of quackery and bring autonomy and sovereignty to the field.

Politics is a part and parcel of every profession; indeed, political affiliation provides nourishment for professional growth. However, despite of all such facts Pakistan does not have any recognized Physical Therapy council or organization at the government level, numerous associations and societies are though build and registered but none of them have the capabilities to provide boost which is necessary for the genuine building of the profession. Although the Sindh legislative assembly has passed the bill of Sindh Physical Therapy Council but its execution is still in waiting and the sword of Damocles is hanging on a profession as the profession is still waiting to get its true autonomy. Nevertheless, there is a hope against hope as every dark cloud has a silver lining. The following should be the guidelines of making a council in order to get maximum autonomy for profession

CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL

  1. President

The council must possess a president who shall be responsible for the representation of the profession and must act as the head of the council and the executive council and will also preside the meeting pertaining to bothcouncils5. He must also be responsible for the upbringing of the profession according to the international standards in the field of Physical Therapy

  1. Vice President

The vice president will be responsible to work under the supervision of the president and will be responsible to make decisions in the absence of the president pertaining and keeping in view the betterment of the profession6.

  1. Executive Members of the Council

This council will consist of the President the Vice President, the Head of all the Educational Institutions of Physical Therapy (ex–officio)7 and the Democratically Elected Members which includes General Secretary, Finance Secretary, I.T. Secretary, Media Secretary, and Four Senior Physical Therapists, having an experience of not less than 15 years in the field of Physical Therapy8.

  1. Registrar

Registrar will be appointed by the president who shall have an understanding of profession for not less than 15 years in the field of Physical Therapy and will work as long as he / she enjoy the support of the members of the council9. He / She will also be accountable for maintaining the day-to-day affairs of the council.

  1. Registered Members of the Council

It includes all Physiotherapists who shall have completed their basic qualification/education in the field of Physiotherapy and are registered from the council10.

  1. Nominated Members

Nominated members includes all those members belonging to the different public and private sectors that can witness the proper running of the council these members are the ex-officio members of the council it includes:

a) Member of National Assembly nominated by the Speaker national assembly

b) Secretary health department or his nominated members

c) Judge appointed by the Chief Justice Pakistan

d) Representation from public/private NGO’s

APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT

The President and the Vice President will be elected by mutual consensus of the members the Executive Council. The nominated members of the council do not have any role in the election of the President

ROLE AND RESPONSILBILITY OF THE COUNCIL

  1. Recognition and the Regulation of the Physiotherapy Institute

The Council shall be responsible for the recognition and regulation of the Physical Therapy institutions in Pakistan and shall be responsible for setting and maintaining the minimum standards of Physical Therapy institutions in Pakistan11.

  1. Recognition and Regulation of Physical Therapy Qualification

 The Council shall be responsible for the recognition and regulation of the Physical Therapy Qualifications in Pakistan and shall be responsible for setting and maintaining the minimum standards of Physical Therapy education in Pakistan12.

  1. Registration of Physical Therapist

The council shall register the Physiotherapists of Pakistan by taking nominal fees of registration and work for the betterment of Physiotherapists by negotiating and making a nominal remuneration for the Physiotherapists of Pakistan and shall also work for the removal of Quackery in thefield13.

  1. Continuous Professional Education

The council shall also be responsible to work for the continuous development of the professionals and shall hold seminars, workshops, and other professional programs for the continuous development of the profession14.

  1. Recognition of Foreign Physical Therapy Education

The council shall also work for the recognition of foreign Physical Therapy education and shall recognize the education/qualification of any Physical Therapist who has completed his/her education in Physiotherapy from abroad and wants to work as Physiotherapist in Pakistan15.

  1. Planning meant for Schemes with Foreign Countries and Exchange Programs.

The Council may go into discussions with the opposite authority in any foreign country or association, for the settlement of a system for up–gradation of physiotherapy education in Pakistan or postgraduate degrees or any matter or outlook associated to theprofession11.

  1. Council to Verify Definite People to Possess of Sufficient Physiotherapy Education.

The Council shall also work to certify that certain person of having minimum qualification to work as a Physiotherapist in Pakistan who has completed his/her education from any institution from within or outside of Pakistan.

  1. Power of Council to Impose Penalties

The Council shall also impose penalties whoever runs or establishes or endorses any organization or advertises admissions in an institution for imparting education in physiotherapy, which is not acknowledged from the council, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years but shall not be less than a year and/or with fine which may extend to one million rupees but shall not be less than three hundred thousand rupees and shall also be accountable to end of such institution16.

PRIVILEGES OF REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST OF COUNCIL17

  1. Legitimate registration shall be considered as an accreditation to practice Physical Therapy in Pakistan and a level of Physical Therapist shall be mentioned by the Council in the registration credential.
  2. A certified physiotherapist, having legitimate registration, may take admission for an additional prerequisite course in the field of Physical Therapy or in any other field.
  3. To hold any appropriate administrative or service provider appointment in any Physical Therapy institution or association or hospitals or health center or related health institution.
  4. To hold a commission as a Physical Therapist in the Armed Forces.
  5. Only a certified Physical Therapist having legitimate registration is qualified to take part in the elections of the Council.

POWER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS18

The Council shall have the power to make the following regulations:

  1. The administration of the assets of the Council and the upholding and inspection of its financial records.
  2. The beckoning and holding of conferences/meetings of the Council, the time and place where such conferences/ meetings are to be held, the demeanor of business thereat and the number of members necessary to order a caucus.
  3. The powers and responsibilities of the President and Vice President.
  4. The method of selection of the Executive Committee and other Committees, the beckoning and holding of meetings, and the demeanor of business of such Committees.
  5. Code of Practice, Morals, and Ethical Values for the Physical Therapy practitioners.
  6. The appointment, powers, obligations, and actions of Physical Therapy inspectors.
  7. The state of affairs and course of action for preservation, compendium, and periodical of the record of Physical Therapy practitioners and of health care providing services and their minimum requirements and the fees to be charged for registration and, if essential, for opening of sub-offices or branches for this principle. In a nut shell, the political affiliation is necessary for the purpose of growth and nourishment of any profession and it is for that reason, the formation of the Pakistan Physiotherapy Council is need of an hour and it is high time for all the Physical Therapy professionals of Pakistan to think seriously on this issue and work for the formation of a body which can represent our profession to the best and bring autonomy in the field of Physiotherapy.

REFERENCES

  1. John Steinbeck. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: AvailableFrom:http://www.brainyquote.com/ quotes/quotes/j/johnsteinb114029.html
  2. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (Revised January 2012) – Available From:http://www. naceweb.org/principles/#sthash.8FzArR3E.dpuf
  3. APTA’s House of Delegates (House) in 2013, APTA’s Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession
  4. APTA’s House of Delegates (House) in 2013, Guiding Principles
  5. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012, Section 6, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  6. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012, Section 9, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  7. Pakistan, National Assembly, ACT NO. XXVI OF 1973, Section 3, The Pakistan Nursing Council act 1973
  8. Pakistan, National Assembly, ACT NO. XXVI OF 1973, Section 9, The Pakistan Nursing Council act 1973
  9. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012,section 9, s.s (1), (c), Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  10. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012, section 2, clause (q) Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  11. Pakistan, National Assembly, ACT NO. XXVI OF 1973, Section 12, The Pakistan Nursing Council act 1973
  12. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, (Revised on 23 May 2013) – Available From: http://www. csp.org.uk/about-csp/our-structure/organisation
  13. Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators, Strategic Plan 2013-2015 Available From:http://www . a l l i a n c e p t . o r g / p d f s / S t r a t e g i c P l a n – F I – NAL2013-2015.pdf
  14. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012, Section 16B, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  15. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012, Section 16A, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  16. Pakistan, National Assembly Secretariat, Act of Majlis-e-Shoora, ACT No. XIX OF 2012, Section 22B, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
  17. Pakistan, ACT, 1965 (II of 1965), Part III, Chapter-I, Section 32, The Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners, act 1965
  18. Pakistan, ACT, 1965 (II of 1965), Part III, Chapter-IV, Sections 45 & 46, The Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners, act 1965