<i>35 physiatrists for 1.5cr people with disabilities</i>

The country has only 35 physiatrists to treat around 1.5 crore people suffering from different types of physical disability, said the experts at the 5th National Convention of Bangladesh Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (BAPMR) yesterday.
They said though more and more patients are coming to physiatrists, there are only eight medical colleges in the country where Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) department exists.
The experts stressed the need for initiating the subject in all medical colleges and hospitals while all the medical institutes should have outdoor and indoor facilities for intensive rehabilitation of the disabilities resulting from different diseases and traumas.
At the inaugural session of the two-day convention in a city hotel, the experts said MD and Post-Graduate Diploma courses in medical rehabilitation can be opened in old medical colleges.
At the same time, development of trained and skilled paramedical staff like physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, prosthetist and orthotist with rehabilitation nurse is also important, they added.
The experts urged the government to make Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) a centre of excellence for rehabilitation medicine from where some 50000 patients received treatment last year.
But still there is no indoor service in the hospital, they added.
Speaking as special guest, BSMMU Vice-chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam said his administration will try its best to introduce indoor service for PMR at the university.
He stressed the need for community involvement with the institution to facilitate treatment of the patients which is almost absent in the country.
“It is terrifying that one institution is forced to provide services to 50000 patients of different disabilities under the PMR department as there are some medical colleges where this specialty exists,” said Health Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin while speaking as chief guest.
The subject needs special attention and initiation of indoor facilities at BSMMU is a must, he said, adding, the government has already taken a decision to establish a College of Physiotherapy.
At the convention, aimed to emphasise the role of PMR for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of disabilities resulting from musculoskeletal disorder and neurological disorder, the experts said a uniform guideline for the prevention and treatment of disability and the rehabilitation of disabled is needed.
Presided over by Prof Dr Mohammad Quamrul Islam, the inaugural session was also addressed by Dr Mohammad Taslim Uddin, Prof Mohammad Moyeenuzzaman and Prof Mohammad Habibur Rahman.