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Physical Therapy in the Asia Pacific Region

Catherine SykesMargot Skinner

Gayline ManalangUsha Krishna-Gfeller

                                                                                      

                  

WCPT AWP spans three of the WHO regions

Ref: www.who.int/about/regions/en/

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Number of physical therapists in the Asia Pacific region 1992-2011

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

150,000

160,000

22,981

43,021

107,908

Physical Therapy in the Region – Movement for Health

Non communicable diseases – escalating need for education on prevention and increased physical activityAgeing population – active ageingNatural disasters – the ongoing challenge is rehabilitation to become active contributors to societyMental health – improvement in physical fitness to improve well-being

Physical therapy and NCDs

Physical therapists should be available to:• Be involved in

preventive education programmes.

• Provide rehabilitation programmes that include exercise, education, and self management.

WHO/PAHOhttp://www.who.int/features/factfiles/cancer/06_en.html

Physical therapy and NCDsPhysical therapists should be available to:• Participate in and promote the

development of reliable, inexpensive and sustainable surveillance systems for major NCDs and their risk factors such as stroke.

• Provide early rehabilitation with reference to cultural, social and environmental needs.

• Manage patients in acute care as well as in the community to ensure that each individual has optimal physical function and is integrated into society

Photos: National Stroke Association of Malaysia http://www.nasam.org/rehab-physio.php

Physical therapy and the ageing population

Physical therapists should be available to:• Have a key role in

active ageing• Facilitate physical

independence• Prevention of ageing

related disability

Physical therapy and disaster management

Physical therapists are the experts in physical rehabilitation. They should have a major role in:• Triage and acute care

management• Provision of appropriate care for

and access to community environments for disabled persons along with appropriate forms of community based rehabilitation

• Rebuilding communities to ensure safe and accessible environments

Photo courtesy of Ung Sambath Cambodia Physical Therapy Association

Physical therapy and mental health

Physical therapists should be available to:• Be involved in improving physical activity to assist with

reduction in depression and anxiety, improved physical status, improved cognitive function, and facilitation of behavioural lifestyle change.

• Physiotherapists working in mental health are uniquely placed to provide an extensive range of physical approaches to treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.

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New Zealand• Total population 4,266,000 • Gross national income per capita (PPP

international $) 25,200• Total expenditure on health per capita

(Intl $, 2009) 2,667 • Total expenditure on health as % of GDP

(2009) 9.7Source: World Health Organization

• Physical therapists 4166 Source: Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand Annual Report 2009-2010

http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/Physio_Ann_Rpt_2009-10_(web).pdf

Physical Therapy and New Zealand

Physical therapists have:• Regulation• Direct access for patients

throughout the age range• Entry level degree and formal

postgraduate qualifications• Participation in health

professional rural immersion education programmes

• Training in programmes to provide quit smoking education to patients

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Fiji• Total population 849,000• Gross national income per

capita (PPP international $) 4,320

• Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2009) 165

• Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2009) 3.6

Source: World health Organization

• Physiotherapists 58 (2011)

Source: Fiji Physiotherapy Association

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Fiji• School of Physiotherapy at

the Fiji National University (FNU) in Suva

• Education of PTs from many countries in the Pacific region

• FNU also runs CBR programmes

• Fiji Physiotherapy Association runs continuing professional development courses

• Regulation introduced in November 2011

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PhilippinesTotal population 91,983,000Gross national income per capita (PPP international $) 3,900Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2009) 136 Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2009) 3.8Source: World Health Organization

Physical therapists: 23,897(30-09-2011)Source: Philippines Physical Therapy Association

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Philippines• The CBR course is mandated in the BS Physical Therapy

curriculum – as a subject and as a requirement for community internship.

• PPTA signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR), University of Toronto

• Clinical training program enhancement, skills enhancement, and program evaluation for clinical supervisors (CS) and clinical instructors (CI)

• “PPTA Balikbayan Seminar”, CPD with homecoming Filipinos

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WCPT Asia Western Pacific Region

China: • Emergency response• Building the profession –

programmes recently developed in a few universities

• Establishment and assessment of entry level programmes against WCPT standards

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WCPT Member organisations in the region

• Nepal – student exchange programme with Australia

• South Korea has developed leadership in ICF

• Australia – sponsorship for delegates from low resourced countries in the region to attend congress

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WCPT activities in support of physical therapy

• Policies and guidelines• Continuing professional

development• World Physical Therapy

day 8 September annually• Congress every 4 years• Policy summits• World Health Professions

Alliance• Data base of physical

therapist expertise

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Next steps

• Revised collaborative plan of work for WCPT and WHO Disability and Rehabilitation Team

• Ongoing support for China and other countries developing the physical therapy profession

• World Health Professions Alliance projects on collaborative practice and NCDs.