Sancheti Institute to Start Post-Graduation Course in Physiotherapy Rashida Bakait, Pune

Sancheti Institute of Orthopaedics in Pune would be the first to come up with the post-graduation course in Physiotherapy-MPHT. Till now, the Institute was running a four and half year graduation course in Physiotherapy (BPHT).

With the investment of Rs. 31 lakh, the post-graduate course would commence at Sancheti Institute by this academic year. Principal of the college S.M. Sabnis said, "We are expecting to get the approval from the Pune University anytime now and we will start the course from this year." The fifth floor of the hospital would be utilized for the purpose and the laboratory would take yet another four months to come up.

The intake capacity of the two-year MPHT course is 24 students. Dwelling on the syllabus to be included Principal said, "We had discussions with Mumbai and Nagpur Universities for the syllabus to be included Principal said, "We had discussions with Mumbai and Nagpur Universities for the syllabus to be included here and finally we have modified our syllabus as per the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik." As for teaching staff, five more teachers would be recruited in addition to the eight teaching faculties, presently.

The areas of specialty to be included in the course are: Muscular-skeletal, neuroscience, cardio-respiratory, general and community based rehabilitation, functional / physical diagnosis and paediatrics.

Prospects In Physiotherapy

By: M B Ratnannavar, Mumbai

Young people in India see a bright future for themselves as physiotherapists if the attendance at the recently concluded annual conference of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists held here recently. More than 60 to 70 percent of the 1000 participants were below 30 to 35 years age.

All the sessions, be it inaugural or others were packed to full capacity. Speciality of this conference was even students from various physiotherapy colleges were allowed to participate.

Jyoti Prokash Kirtania, a young physiotherapist from Kolkata said, "People now a days try to avoid pain killer types of medicines. They come to us for physiotherapy. Earlier there were only two colleges in West Bengal, teaching physiotherapy, now there are 5. Physiotherapy has various channels. Until recently it was easy to get physiotherapists job in Government. I did not opt for government job because they are transferable. I am happy with this profession. There is a scope for physiotherapists in Canada. I remember around 30 physiotherapists have gone to Canada from Kolkata.

A young lady physiotherapist, Sheetal from Mumbai said, "I did not want admission to a medical or engineering college at a long distance. I took admission in the physiotherapy school as I knew about the school and also one of my relation was a therapist."

"There are lot of avenues for physiotherapists now. They need not look for a job. They can practice independently. They can as well take up teaching and be an academician," said a young physiotherapist from Karnataka.

According to Dinesh Verma, Director, Business Development, Rehabasia, based in Singapore, there are approx. 500 Physiotherapists for 3.8 million populations in Singapore. With ageing, more and more people come with arthritis, back ache, low back pain, etc. and there will be demand for physiotherapists in future. His company provides equipment and services to the hospitals in Singapore.

On why Indian cricketers go to Australia or South Africa for treatment, one senior physiotherapist said "These cricketers get free treatment, can stay in five star hotels, free travel, for which cricket board pays,"

"Are there no good Indian doctors, no good equipment available in India," he asked.

One participant Dr. P Krishnan, Senior Consultant Physiotherapist at the Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Centre, Siva Hospital in Chennai and Official Physiotherapist, National Para Olympics Committee, India, who took 72 persons from India to participate in Busan 2002 Games in South Korea and won 22 medals for India, has treated more than one lakh patients and attends to around 25-30 patients daily said. "Tamil Nadu State has 64 Physiotherapy colleges, teaching and training physiotherapists and more than 1000 physiotherapy centers.

The number of physiotherapists is increasing. Patients first go to neuro or orthopedic specialists. When they don't get results, they turn to the physiotherapists. This is an external treatment where no medication is involved. Of course, in certain cases, medicines are required. Even stroke can be treated by physiotherapy."

Speaking on "Emotional intelligence in clinical practice", Dr. Shantanu Nagarkatti, M.S (Bom), Consultant Surgeon, said that emotion plays an important role in the doctor-patient relationship. Emotion gives energy, knowledge and intelligence to human beings. This emotional intelligence has to be used by the doctors for good and sustained relationship with the patients and not for evil purposes. Dr. Nagarkatti gave some examples emotional intelligence for which the audience was full of laughter.

Richard Jackson, a Board certified clinical specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists and holding Certificate of Competency in Manual Therapy from the University of St. Augustine said, "People are living longer now. The most important factor is increased utilization of physiotherapy in U.S. has gone up dramatically in the last 15 years. This is a service that benefits large section of population. More than physiotherapy the actual activity is in its awareness. In U.S. there are 1,30,000 physiotherapists for 300 million people and there is growing need for physiotherapists.

Real challenge is growth of physiotherapists to meet future demand. Government must recognize physiotherapists as independent medical speciality. Patients should also have direct access to physiotherapists. In India, I learn that there are 15,000 physiotherapists for a 1.4 billion population."

"Sacro-iliac function is generally ignored by medicine today. We should know that at least 30% low back pain population has this S.I. dysfunction. To ignore the diagnosis is to ignore 1/3 patient. It can be treated with mobilization and exercises. Small percentage of low back population requires surgery.

Source: Source: Hospital Review, February 16-28, 2003, Vol. I No.8