Beware of quack physiotherapists - SLSP

by Thulasi Muttulingam

There are a number of quacks practising in the country as physiotherapists, warns the Sri Lanka Society of Physiotherapists (SLSP). According to B.A. Mettanande, President of SLSP, Physiotherapy is a highly demanding and technical field of medical study which requires years of intense study and practical experience.

However, the demand of physiotherapy in the country is such that many underqualified or unqualified people in the country are being employed as physiotherapists which is ultimately detrimental to the patients, says the SLSP.

"There is easy money to be made here by quacks so the public have vigilant. Make sure you ask a physiotherapist for his Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) accreditation card, without which he cannot practice," Says Mettanande.

"Most physiotherapists who train here go abroad because of the better salaries. While the School of Physiotherapy has been turning out trained physiotherapists since 1957, only about 300 - 400 professionals remain in the country today", he said.

The SLSP said, a few of those who have worked in the field with them such as attendants and nurses, have cashed in on the situation. "We know of an attendant in Gampaha and two male nurses in Nugegoda who are working as physiotherapists, after gaining some experience working under physiotherapists" says the SLSP.

Further, they charge that some institutes have cashed in on this to offer quick courses on Physiotherapy to students, who hope to close the unemployment gap.

"Many people see the demand for physiotherapists as a solution to the unemployment problem", says P. Sanjeewa, Secretary, SLSP.

"You need to have passed Physics at A/Level to study physiotherapy and the course itself is very demanding and should cover a wide variety of subjects such as anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, electrotherapy, pathology and neuroscience.

"However, many institutes are now offering physiotherapy courses without the adequate curriculum or necessary practical experience.

They are not registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council or accredited by them, the students they train are neither recognised in Sri Lanka nor adequately trained," he said.