Treat occupational therapy as independent profession, practitioners urge Union government

MANGALURU: Occupational therapists across the country are demanding inclusion of

occupational therapy

(OT) as an independent profession in the proposed Rule 8B of the draft notification of Clinical Establishments (central government) Third Amendment Rules, 2019.

Other than sending emails and letters to the ministry of health and family welfare, they have also brought the issue to the notice of Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union minister of health and family welfare. Occupational therapists have been tweeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

OT, which uses principles of modern day medical science, is an independent and separate profession from physiotherapy. Occupational therapists have an intensive training in assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of persons having any impairment in their physical, psycho-social or cognitive domains which hamper their participation in daily activities, functional issues and prevent them from performing their roles. Delhi Council of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy defines OT as the application of purposeful goal-oriented activity through latest technology with computerized system and like in the evaluation, diagnosis, and or treatment of persons whose function is impaired by physical illness or injury, psychological dysfunctions, congenital or

developmental disability

, or the ageing process, in order to achieve optimum functioning, to prevent disability, and to maintain health.

Koushik Sau, assistant professor, department of OT,

Manipal

College of Health Professions (MCHP), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), told TOI, “Due to lack of opportunities, therapists are moving abroad after working for about two years, due to which the country is losing its skilled workforce. Every year about 1,100 occupational therapists graduate, but less than 10% are staying in India. There is a huge demand for private practitioners. Several state governments like Delhi and Maharashtra have started recognizing OT and a few state governments have also started introducing courses. Colleges like MCHP are offering graduate, postgraduate courses and therapists also take up doctoral studies. The government must make it mandatory for hospitals to have at least one occupational therapist. Though the Medical Council of India made a mention of this, it was not made mandatory,” he said.

There are about 6,000 occupational therapists in India.


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