The proposed Paramedical and Physiotherapy Central Councils Bill is in the eye of the storm once again for the physiotherapists in India. There had been appreciation of having a council being proposed for physios after such a long wait, but much more widespread criticism and anger had been pouring in against the proposed Bill. The Bill has been introduced in the lower house of the Parliament the 'Lok Sabha' on 4th December 2007 and has been referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare for examination and report. The Committee has decided to invite written memoranda containing suggestions/views/comments on the matter which there upon will be on consideration while taking up the Bill before being tabled, with a deadline of Jan 31st 2008 for the suggestions.

We sincerely wish all of you to go through the proposed Bill and put in your suggestions, views and comments on the same in our forum here. Join in the on going discussion about the same at the earliest and do let us know what you feel to be done and where you stand on matter! This should help us all have a joint understanding on what to be done regarding the proposed Bill and how our responses should be. We would then have a collective suggestion to be sent the concerned authorities in the form of a memorandum before the deadline reaches.

At the same time we are also erecting a mass online petition to back our suggestions put forward in the memorandum, which would remain online even after the submission deadline get past. If you wish to sign the petition click the 'Sign Petition' link button below.

Download a copy of the bill here.
Express your opinions here.

On 19.01.08, New Delhi, an emergency meeting of Physiotherapy academicians and professionals of Delhi NCR was called upon in Indian Spinal Injuries Center to express serious concern and line of further course of action against the objectionable contents of the 'Paramedical & Physiotherapy Council Bill- 2007' in Bill No. 96 of 2007, titled 'The Paramedical and Physiotherapy Councils Bill 2007', which has been enlisted in the Standing Committee of Rajya Sabha and put forth for public opinion till 27th Jan 2008.

The meeting was attended by HODs, faculties and physiotherapists of leading institutions and hospitals of Delhi NCR. The agenda of meeting was concentrated on core objectionable issues of the Bill.

Firstly, the members discussed that earlier in 2005, when the same bill was enlisted for introduction in budget session of Rajya Sabha, physiotherapists from all over India had expressed their anguish and resentment considering their bleak future. As a result the Ministry for Health & Family Welfare had withdrawn the bill and without considering the recommendation from professional bodies; further manipulated the bill. Once again more physiotherapists are stern and outraged with this move of ministry to curb their independent practice. As this bill is being proposed to regulate the education and practice of physiotherapy in India and shall affect around 30,000 qualified physiotherapists, 35000 physiotherapy students and approximately 100 crore fellow citizens.

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