Bangladesh Physiotherapy Students Union (BPSU) and Bangladesh Physiotherapy Society (BPS) yesterday demanded of the government to establish immediately a college of physiotherapy in the country.
They made the demand at a discussion organised by the Health Reporters Forum at the National Press Club in the city.
Speakers at the discussion said the health ministry approved a project worth Tk 30 crore in 1998 for establishing a separate college of physiotherapy recruiting manpower and purchasing equipment, but the project is yet to see the light.
They said the registration of physiotherapists is still stopped although the government has recognised it as a professional course.
Even there is no post of physiotherapist in public hospitals except one at the National Institute of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation (Nitor), they added.
The BPSU also demanded immediate starting of internship programme, professional registration of the bachelor of physiotherapists, introduction of post-graduation course by the government and initiation of the post of physiotherapist in different specialised medical institutions.
The government has already taken a decision in principle to establish a college of physiotherapy, said Health Secretary Dr Anwar Hossain Munshi, adding that the place for the college would be selected at a meeting on September 16.
Presided over by President of Health Reporters Forum Moniruzzaman Uzzal, the discussion was moderated by its Vice-president Prashun Ashish.
Forum's General Secretary Proteek Izaz read out the keynote paper.
Director of medical education Dr Khandaker Shefayetullah, Coordinator of Gonoshasthya Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, BPS General Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman, BPSU Convener Rasel Rana, and Pradeep Kumar Saha of Peoples University of Bangladesh also spoke on the occasion.