Acute shortage of physiotherapists in Bihar despite rising demand

Patna: Even as physiotherapy has gained greater importance in modern healthcare due to the growing incidence of chronic illnesses among the elderly and the rising demand for non-invasive and rehabilitative care, Bihar continues to face an acute shortage of trained physiotherapists.On the eve of World Physiotherapy Day, observed on Sept 8, experts voiced concern over the alleged apathy of the authorities towards the condition of physiotherapy institutions and called for urgent state govt intervention to bring physiotherapy on par with other branches of medical science.A 2024 report by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) flagged a severe shortfall of healthcare professionals, including doctors and paramedics, across Bihar. Physiotherapists too remain in high demand, with the state failing to produce an adequate number of skilled professionals. “Taking into consideration the present status of health care, the state needs the services of at least 5,000 trained physiotherapists,” said Dr Narendra Kumar Sinha, state convener of the Indian Association of Physiotherapist (IAP).Dr Sinha added that the govt of India had introduced the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals (NCAHP) Act, 2021 to regulate and maintain standards for more than 50 allied and health care professions. “The Act’s objectives include regulating education and services, assessing institutions and promoting research and development in health care. While most of the states have already implemented this Act, Bihar is yet to follow the suit,” he said.The state-run Bihar College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (BCPOT), set up in Patna’s Kankarbagh in 1998, has long suffered from a shortage of faculty and basic infrastructure, undermining the quality of education for students. The college requires at least 15 teachers, but currently has only three to four. Even after 27 years of existence, it still offers only a bachelor’s course. Postgraduate courses could not be started due to a lack of staff and facilities, according to sources.Physiotherapist Dr Rajnish Kumar said most students keen on pursuing advanced studies in physiotherapy are forced to leave Bihar as no such facility is available in the state. “The govt institution is already in limbo and even the private institutions running in the state fail to provide any quality education in this line of knowledge,” he added.Health minister Mangal Pandey, speaking to this newspaper on Sunday, said the state govt recognised the importance of physiotherapists in modern health care. “We are striving to post at least one physiotherapist in every block. The govt has already created 784 posts of physiotherapists and recruitment on the posts would be made soon. The govt has also extended the duration of bachelor course in physiotherapy from 4.5 years to five years and decided to introduce a new curriculum based on the recommendation of NCAHP,” Pandey said.