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Newmai News Network
Imphal | August 11
Physiotherapists in Manipur on Sunday registered a strong opposition to the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA) 2019 which was tabled by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Parliament on July 17 last.
“We strongly oppose CEA 2019”, one of the placards displayed by the physiotherapists at a sit-in-protest staged in Imphal’s Keishampat read.
The protest was held under the banner of the All Manipur Physiotherapists Association (AMPA).
Talking to media persons, AMPA general secretary, Romenkumar Meetei said that as per World Health Organisation (WHO), physiotherapy is stated to be an independent body. “So we denounce with certain norms related with setting up of physiotherapy centres included in the recently tabled CEA 2019,” he said. He also said that if the Parliament passes the bill and enacts, there will be problems in the independently practicing physiotherapy, he said.
WHO defines physiotherapy as autonomous professions and it is not paramedical, he pointed out.
Besides creating problems in the practices of physiotherapy, if the CEA 2019 is passed, it will tantamount to violate WHO’s guidelines, he added.
As per the CEA 2019, a physiotherapy centres are allied healthcare establishment providing physical therapy services by physiotherapists to patients with a recent prescription or referral from licensed medical doctors (physician/surgeons).
Depending on the health condition a review and re-prescription by a treating medical doctor is required for continuing physiotherapy services.
Under CEA 2019, National Council for Clinical Establishments has to approve minimum standards to run a physiotherapy centre, the general secretary said.
Wherever CEA is applicable, no one can run a clinical establishment without registration. For registration and continuation, the clinical establishment including physiotherapy centre is required to fulfil minimum standards, minimum requirement of personnel, maintenance of records, compliance to standard treatment guidelines and comply with all other provisions of CEA, he added.
