Saima calls for creating regulatory body

Formation of a regulatory body is necessary for ensuring dignity and quality of services provided by rehabilitation professionals including physiotherapists and occupational therapists, said Saima Wazed Hossain yesterday. 

The professionals in the sector face neglect because people lack adequate knowledge about them. Also, there is no institution to regulate services provided by the professionals, Saima, the chairperson of National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, also said, according to a press release.

“I urge the authorities concerned to form a regularity body so that immediate measures can be taken to make the profession up to date. Through it an eligibility criteria to enrol in the profession also should be formed,” she said.

Saima, the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, made the remarks while giving a keynote presentation at the first International Conference for Rehabilitation Professionals 2017 held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital, the release said.

Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA) organised the two-day conference on “Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for achieving Sustainable Development Goals”. Medical and rehabilitation professionals from 13 countries including Bangladesh took part in the programme.

Saima in her speech said people should understand the rehabilitation profession and the professionals must engage themselves to gather knowledge in order to enrich the sector.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim said the government will take immediate measures to form the body and build necessary institutions for rehabilitation professionals on a piece of land allocated in the city's Mohakhali area.

Valerie A Taylor, founder and coordinator of Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP); and Dr Nasirul Islam, president of BPA; also spoke at the programme, said the release.