Background

Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA), a non-political voluntary welfare organization was established in 2001. After the liberation in 1971, the National Orthopedic Hospital was established for the treatment and rehabilitation of the war victims. Instant demand of physiotherapy service leaded to start of physiotherapy course in 1973. Unfortunately the course was stopped after two groups of students trained to degree level. Only few qualified Physiotherapists stayed in Bangladesh and other left. In 1994 Physiotherapy graduation course was started again under the medicine faculty of the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI) and National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). Afterwards the graduation course was also introduced in People's University of Bangladesh , Gono Bishwabiddalya (GB), Bangladesh Medical College (BMC) and State University of Bangladesh (SUB). As the qualified physiotherapists started their professional practice they found that malpractice had already became a threat and the maintaining standard of physiotherapy education was another bigger issue. Besides, there was no post graduation training, continuous professional development training, and awareness. Qualified therapists did not get job opportunity or chance of practice due to lack of awareness amongst the people about the new profession. Clients could not judge properly to receive proper treatment and advices for their physical conditions such as disease and disability due to lack of awareness. Even patient was not referred to Physiotherapists by other health care professionals. The emergent need of preventing malpractice and ensuring quality of standard education demanded the existence of a national physiotherapy organization. So, Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA) was formed in 2001 in recognition of Bangladesh Government. Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA) got the provisional membership of World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT) in 2006. BPA got the full membership of WCPT in June, 2007 at the WCPT congress at Vancouver , Canada .

Vision

To improve and maintain the standard of physiotherapy education and quality of Physiotherapy services in Bangladesh .

Mission

The people will receive quality Physiotherapy services and promote quality of life.

Aims

1. Encourage developing high standard of Physiotherapy profession through research, education, clinical practice and continuing professional development training etc. This will be implemented through organizing national and international seminar as well as educational program such as continuous professional development (CPD) training, clinical case conference, In Service Training etc.

2. To play a role in order to develop the quality of training and academic courses by controlling the standard of curriculum in liaison with the government and private hospitals. Rehabilitation centre and Physiotherapy training school in Bangladesh and play active role to control malpractice in Bangladesh .

3. Establish the rights and dignity for Physiotherapists in Bangladesh .

4. Introduce Physiotherapist as a first contact practitioner in Bangladesh and raise awareness amongst the people in Bangladesh about Physiotherapy Profession

Activities

1. Giving registration of Physiotherapist for autonomous practice.

2. Conducting mobile health camp in different setting in Bangladesh .

3. Conducting Continues Professional Development (CPD) towards Physiotherapist in Bangladesh e.g. McKenzie course, Orthopaedic Medicine (Cyriax concept), Manual Therapy (Mulligan concept) etc.

4. Lobbing with the Government to create the graduate post in different hospital and institute.

5. Publish Journal and Newsletter quarterly.

6. Organizing national seminar yearly.

7. Coverage media for raising awareness e.g. writing article in the newspaper.

8. Free assistive device and mobility aids provided for extremely poor people.

9. Liaison with WCPT continuously and attend world congress for Physical therapist to gather in new concept and scientific intervention for treatment.

10. Conducting executive meeting monthly and general meeting yearly.

Organizational Structure

There are the existence of two committees in this Organization- Executive committee & General Committee

Executive committee:- The executive committee consists of 17 members who are selected by the vote of the general members. They will be selected by the vote of majority. Click here to view the current executive committee.

General committee:- The general committee is formed by the general members, associated members and the life members and this committee will be the most powerful committee.