Physioblasts.Org - India's Physiotherapy Community Portal: Physio News, Physio Forum, PT Events, Article and More

The NCHRH Bill, 2011 And Physiotherapy - A Memorandum To The Committee.

Saturday 14 January 2012 - 19:57:21 | National Physiotherapy News

After the promising news for Physiotherapists in India with Parliamentary standing committee report tabled

in the Lok Sabha in 2008 and the initial draft of the NCHRH Bill, there is again enough feed for worry with the new version of the Bill tabled in the Rajya sabha. There are regulations as well on professionals who opt for foreign education in the present Bill.

For the physio community which had been fighting hard especially for the last few years, the worst imaginable situation has come up in the form of the NCHRH Bill, 2011. Physiotherapy, or for that matter any allied health profession, is not given any mention in the present Bill. It is still unclear whether the profession has been included under any categories in the present version, or has been excluded for the time being considering the indecision there was on the profession, its definition, rights, duties and limits within the government departments.

But there is enough room for suspicion whether the profession, along with other allied health professions, has been included the ‘Paramedical Council’ which finds a mention in the Bill. Same being one of the major issue with the ‘Paramedical and Physiotherapy Central Council Bill, 2007’, it should be expected that the Bill will face stiff challenge from not just physiotherapy professionals, but all other allied health professions as well.

Though the reasons are obscure about why allied health professions do not want to be under the Paramedical Council, it seems that these professions have a separate identity and is no more considered a paramedical profession anywhere else in the world is the major reason. The other few factors which should be assumed to affect the professions when being under the Paramedic Council will be that pay revisions and professional development will be equally affected. Pay revisions in our country always followed with the level where each profession is placed by the government legislations. Thus being along with a lot of other technologist professions in the Paramedical Council, allied health professions will have a tough time getting a better pay scale revision in the future. More will be its effect on the development of those professions in the country, which infact does have a major role in the health field in the days ahead.

It is quite surprising that they have ignored physiotherapy when the profession along with occupational therapy had State Councils and Registers already in place in Maharashtra, TamilNadu, Gujarat and Delhi. There is no mention of what will happen to those Councils and its members. Things are also same with the Rehabilitation Council of India which finds no mention.

To assume that the findings of the Parliamentary committee headed by Sri. Amar Singh in 2008 was not considered by the Ministry while drafting this Bill, is surprising a lot. The time, effort and money spend on the meetings, Bill drafting, presentation, Parliament time etc. to be wasted as such seems so confusing.

On the bright side, it should be hoped that, if in case our profession is included under the paramedics, will be as per the findings of the Parliamentary committee report tabled in 2008 in the Lok sabha. More than where our profession is represented, it should be given more thought on how it is represented even if it is as an independent Council or under the Paramedical Council.

The formation of National Board of Health Education and the National Evaluation & Assessment Committee stands well for bringing up and maintaining the educational standards, institutional standards and professional development. It is highly needed in our profession with educational and professional standards declining rapidly in the last few years.

With the Council in place, it will have the right to issue good standing certificates for the professionals rather than the right being with any associations. Many associations will have not be happy with this clause since they will stand to lose a lot of revenue.

The Bill has put in options to have renewal of membership every ten years and it will need professionals to undergo further educations to renew the membership. This seems to be a very good clause and in line with Boards in other countries which emphasise on continuing education. Each professional will have to register with the National Council and with the State Council where on intends to practice. It is not clear whether one can hold registrations in multiple state Councils.

Those who opt to have a higher education in other countries will have to get a NOC from the Council and will need to practice for 3 years in India once the education is completed. High fines to the tune of 5 lakhs initially to the tune of 25 lakhs are in place for those who do not comply. It should be an issue with many physios who get their Masters from abroad and try for a job there itself.

Another good point is that any institutions offering these courses will need to be registered and will have to have their own website furnishing all necessary information. It also needs to see how those short term certificate courses by our professionals are represented in the Bill.

A lot of positives, but few dark areas which causes lot of confusion including the lack of mention about our profession, makes it a very indigestible Bill again for us. This leads us to submit a memorandum to the Parliamentary Committee headed by Shri. Brajesh Pathak, M.P., the draft version of which one can find below. We hope to find suggestions, arguments, or other valid points from everyone which would be included in the final version after careful consideration. Unlike last time when we included a petition to be signed when we submitted a memorandum to the previous committee, we will not be holding one such this time. We also are hoping to have the memorandum submitted in person and have an oral presentation in front of the committee.

Find the memorandum here: grievances_and_suggestions_towards_nchrh_bill_2011.doc

Read/Post Comment: 0 |

'Serving The Community Brings Me A Lot Of Satisfaction', Says Pradip Rai.

Saturday 14 January 2012 - 19:57:21 | In Focus: Physio Star

Not many will look for a job in the rural countryside when the lure of a high paying job is available in the cities. But for

Mr. Pradip Rai, the ability to reach out to the masses in the rural community where the need for any such help is massive, is one which made him to concentrate in the middle to low class families in the villages of Nepal. Pradip, who graduated from Dr. M.V. Shetty College, Karnataka with a Bachelors degree in Physiotherapy, had been steadfast in his approach to help the community in a large scale.

Pradip works with Hope Disability Center, a NGO in Gulmi, Nepal ever since his graduation. He had been successful in extending the reach of the HDC to the rural masses and is looking forward to have his focus in community based rehabilitation itself. HDC has partnered with many other organizations and trusts in channeling funds in rehabilitating and promoting the welfare of the weaker sections of the society.

Pradip says that his primary job is to concentrate on the welfare of the disabled sections of the society. He had been a key figure in the effort of HDC to deliver projects such as orthotic and prosthetic supply to the disabled as well as vocational training for them inorder to bring their life back on track. He does not forget to mention about the impact organisations such as MEND, ABILIS, ALTSO, Rotary Club etc., have made for HDC.

“The success of HDC to the constant efforts by every member of the team from top to bottom” says Pradip Rai, who is also the Clinical Manager of HDC, Gulmi. He adds that one do not have to look into the cities for job, there are many opportunities for a physiotherapist in the rural untouched areas of the society. He sees that there is more potential for professionals like physiotherapists in ‘community based rehabilitation’ and encourages other physiotherapists to look into it. He says it brings more job satisfaction than he thought it would have.

He credits his success in this profession to Dr. Ifthikar Ali, well renowned professor at his college as well as his teachers and friends there. He added that he takes inspiration from Miss. Ganga Rayamajhi, manager of the HDC, Gulmi, who despite her physical limitations managed to show the way ahead by leading the programs at the center.

Pradip, who is very much content with what he is able to do for the society, also is upbeat on the newly setup ‘Ideal Health Center’ by the HDC. He is also looking forward to have several small rehabilitation units set up across Nepal and mobile units which could make treatment reach to every part of the country. He also feels that this project of his could bring jobs to many other therapists as well. He looks forward for a better future with a solid vision.

Read/Post Comment: 0 |

Welcome Guest

Chatbox

Poll

The NCHRH Bill, 2011 And Physiotherapy - A Memorandum To The Committee.

'Serving The Community Brings Me A Lot Of Satisfaction', Says Pradip Rai.

Join Us Now!

Articles

RSS Feeds

Write on our Facebook Wall!


Home Forums Articles Library Downloads Links Events About Us FAQs Jokes Archive Sitemap Physio Blogs
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. We recommend screen resolution of 1024x768 and Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Apple Safari or Netscape web browsers for better viewing experience of this site. Disclaimer \| Terms of Service \| Privacy Policy \| Advertising Policy \| Awards and Recognitions \| Shake Hands with Us © Copyright 2004 - 2011 Physioblasts.Org - India's Premier Physiotherapy Community Portal. All rights reserved. Unathourised Duplication Prohibitted	Write on our Facebook Wall!