The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Poor pay, no recognition bother physiotherapists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 12, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Poor pay, no recognition bother physiotherapists

R. Sujatha

Scores of students who graduate as therapists move to other fields that pay more

POOR PATRONAGE: A physiotherapist training a patient at a clinic in Kodambakkam. — PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

CHENNAI : Though physiotherapy has come into its own, the poor pay and lack of recognition is a dampener, say professionals, who want a council on the lines of medical and nursing councils to address their issues.

"Salaries are low, recognition comes late and a cold war like situation exists with doctors," says David Livingstone, who works at block resource centre for the disabled near Tiruchi. He has chosen to work in the district for which the government pays him Rs. 4,500 a month as consolidated salary. He is looking forward to a proposed increment.

Physiotherapy is a preventive technique where a patient is taught to strengthen the body before lifestyle changes inflict abuse on it. A therapist is a health professional who assesses, diagnoses and plans treatment or rehabilitation methods. The exercises prescribed include lifestyle advice, education to prevent future injury, acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy.

Every year scores of students who graduate as therapists move to other fields that pay more money. A. Manikandan, who has a master's degree says, "In South India the pay package and awareness about therapists are low." He says the middle class does not give enough importance to physiotherapy. "If you tell a patient to come for four days he will hesitate. But if it is two days, he will come readily."

"Hospitals will take in X-ray technicians on their pay roll but a physiotherapist will be employed on commission basis. In a 50-bed hospital only 10 patients may need physiotherapy and the hospital needs only two therapists," he says.

Even teachers feel the pinch. "Initially teaching pays better but it is not enough to meet the expenses of a family," says J. Sheeba Neeru Priya, who recently quit as assistant professor to set up her own clinic.

"Even at college, hands-on experience is low. Colleges in Chennai have established their own outpatient departments but the number of patients needing therapy would be just a tenth of the total visitors. Most of these OPDs would not get more than 50 patients a day," says C. Suresh Kumar, who works at a multi-speciality private hospital and has his own clinic in the city.

"Physiotherapy is still a profession you can look up to," says Kannan Pughazhendi, a sports physician at the Fitness Foundation Academy Sports Medicine centre YMCA College. He works with therapists regularly, he says.

Physiotherapists will be a major value addition in a fitness centre as they augment and enhance people's performance.

Knowledge of anatomy

Their knowledge of anatomy is more extensive than the trainer in a fitness centre as they have go through a proper university programme.

The future for a physiotherapist is bright because they are practising preventive medicine, Dr. Kannan pointed out.

It is necessary to sensitise younger surgeons on the need to work as a team with the therapist for the benefit of the patient, he says.

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