KM Masum Billah

In 1996, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy declared September 8 as World Physiotherapy Day. Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA) has been celebrating this day every year since 2007. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a patient can seek treatment directly from a physiotherapist without any referral. Physiotherapy is a unique medical system where health care is provided through physical exercise without side effects. A physiotherapist usually diagnoses and treats physical problems caused by illness, injury and physical disability. Physiotherapists usually complete a four-year academic course and a one-year internship course. There are also several job opportunities for foreigners in the country. Besides, there is an opportunity to work as a physio consultant in various sports events such as football, hockey, volleyball and other national teams.

Physio therapists are not employed by the government in the country at present. Physiotherapist is one of the preferred professions in the developed world, but this profession is still in a very challenging situation in Bangladesh. Patients with chronic diseases, especially rheumatism and paralysis, cannot be treated with medication. Physiotherapy treatment is required for this. According to various physiotherapists "Physiotherapy is one of the most important branches of modern medicine. Medicines alone cannot cure all diseasesPhysiotherapy is the way to get complete health of all the diseases that are caused especially from various mechanical problems. And that's why recruitment of physiotherapists in government hospitals is now the need of the hour."

Professor Dr. in Bangladesh in 1960. Physiotherapy department was started in Dhaka Medical College Hospital by the hands of Abul Hossain. Later this department was started in some hospitals of the country but after the Liberation War, National Orthopedic Hospital and Crippled Hospital started physiotherapy education and treatment programs on a large scale. The country has very limited opportunities for higher education in a subject as important as physiotherapy. This course is taught in a total of eight institutions including government and private institutions. Therefore, the number of physiotherapists in the country is very less than the requirement. Physiotherapists are needed for people injured in various wars or any struggle. Physiotherapists have also come forward to serve the injured people in the recent quota reform movement.

Bangladesh Physiotherapy Society (BPS), a national organization of physiotherapy doctors since 1972, held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unit's Sagar Runi AuditoriumWhen the stalwarts of the physiotherapy profession like Moniruzzaman retired, the departments became vacant as no more physiotherapists were appointed. At present there is no physiotherapist working in the post of "Physiotherapist" in any government hospital. The Physiotherapy Department which is functioning at Pangu Hospital is also being run by Medical Technologists. As there are no physiotherapists in the government, the entire physiotherapy medical profession is maintained through private physiotherapy centers and some NGO Asha, CRP centers.

Due to this, the common people are deprived of real medical services. Due to lack of proper management, the whole system is running with technologists, technicians, kewak, on the other hand physiotherapist doctors some are moving abroad due to lack of proper management, and many are giving physiotherapy treatment with private chambers. Due to this common people are deprived from the treatment of physiotherapists in Valon.Physiotherapy treatment is an expensive treatment system in government hospitals and health complexes, many people are suffering from long-term patients due to lack of proper treatment, those who benefit from conservative treatment are forced to undergo surgery, some are at risk of disability due to lack of treatment and othersSomeone is disabled.Children with disabilities are burdened by the family as they cannot lead a normal life due to lack of proper physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In addition, physiotherapists play an important role in treating muscle injuries, arthritis, back pain, neurological problems including stroke, joint pain, post-operative physiotherapy, sports physiotherapy, respiratory physiotherapy, ICU physiotherapy, gynecological physiotherapy etcstayIn so many sectors, patients do not get physiotherapy because the government hospitals do not have that system. Those who are able and aware take treatment in private chambers under the supervision of physiotherapists and many capable go abroad for lack of management in government sectorIt is the need of the hour to appoint physiotherapists in government hospitals to ensure proper treatment of patients suffering from rheumatism and paralysis in Bangladesh. Hopefully the new government will take a breakthrough decision in this regard.

The writer is a, Banker and columnist