Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (AF)

Mangalore, Feb 24: The Dakshina Kannada physiotherapy teachers' and students' association submitted a memorandum regarding various demands to union minister for labour Oscar Fernandes during his visit to the city on Saturday February 23.

The association demanded various corrections to be made in the proposed Para Medical and Physiotherapy Council Bill-2007 introduced in the parliament in December 2007. The members alleged that the corrections suggested by the association were not considered by the parliamentary health committee.

The association demanded the correction of the definition of 'physiotherapy' in the proposed bill. The definition states that physiotherapy is a 'medically directed' therapy which limits the independence of physiotherapists in decision making, stated the memorandum. The association urged the health ministry to delete the above term.

The definition also calls physiotherapy an 'occupational therapy' which again limits the scope of the profession. The association alleged that using this term points to discrimination and injustice towards physiotherapy and urged the replacement of the term with 'system of medicine.'

They also suggested scraping the definition and replacing it with that used by the Delhi or Maharashtra councils for physiotherapy.

The proposed bill calls for the formation of a single council for physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The memorandum urged the government to set up separate councils for each as both are different professions.

Their other demands were inclusion of procedure to elect office-bearers of the council in the bill, shortening the terms of first nominated council members from five years to two-three years and setting up a state physiotherapy council.

Among those present were members of the association Dr Rajesh Kumar, Dr Mahesh Kumar, Dr Vinoth Kailash, Dr Amit Sharma and Dr Faisal.