KOCHI: The state government has rejected the demand for an independent council for physiotherapists citing various reasons and has placed the discipline under the paramedical category. This was after the Kerala High Court directed the state government to hear and dispose of the representation submitted by the Kerala Association of Physiotherapists Co-ordination (KAPC) in this regard. The order was issued by the government on February 14.
“Physiotherapists approached the government complaining that a lot of quacks are practicing in their domain and a council for registering practitioners was necessary to prevent this. However, there are nearly 50 paramedical disciplines and creating a council for each of them is not practical and hence this was rejected. The new Kerala Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act 2017 will address their concerns of dealing with quacks in the sector,” said a senior health department officer.
The order says that the argument that physiotherapists were studying for four and a half years to get a degree certificate was equally applicable in the case of BSc MLT, BSc MPharm, BSc Nursing and the like. “That means, the physiotherapy course is not unique in terms of duration or structure as claimed by the petitioners.” It also pointed out that before moving for the formation of an independent council, they (physiotherapists) had to establish it as a separate system of medicine by getting recognition from the Medical Council of India.
“At present physiotherapists are generally included in the category of Allied Health Professionals both in India and abroad. In short, it is a supportive group for the medical profession and does not have an independent status. They are only adjutants for effective cure and recovery,” the order further says. “In the light of Indian Medical Council rules/directives, it appears not feasible to permit them (physiotherapists) for the clinical practice until and otherwise referred or recommended by a registered medical practitioner (MBBS holder),” the order adds.
