Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon the physiotherapists here to come forward to reach out to the earthquake-hit people in Turkiye devastated by the disaster by providing their services via video consulting and tele-medicine.
Lauding the professionalism of physiotherapists by calling them a symbol of hope, resilience and recovery, Modi said physiotherapists not only treat physical injury but give the patient courage to deal with the psychological challenge.
The Prime Minister in his virtual address to the Indian Association of Physiotherapist National Conference in Ahmedabad, requested the profession to develop ways of video consulting and tele-medicine.
He said this can be useful in situations like the earthquake in Turkiye where a large number of physiotherapists are needed and Indian physiotherapists can help via mobile phones and asked the Physiotherapist Association to think in this direction. “The profession also symbolizes the ‘Sabka Prayas’ as patients and doctors both need to work on the problem and this is reflected in many schemes and Jan Andolans like Swacch Bharat and Beti Bachao,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava, physiotherapists received a much awaited recognition as a profession as the government brought the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Bill which recognizes the contribution of physiotherapists in the nation’s healthcare system.
“This has made it easier for all of you to work in India as well as abroad. The government has also added physiotherapists to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission network. This has made it easier for you to reach the patients,“ PM Modi said. He also touched upon growing opportunities for physiotherapists in the environment of Fit India Movement and Khelo India. “It is important that people adopt the right approach regarding fitness. You can do this through Articles and Lectures. And my young friends can even do it through Reels", he said.
The Prime Minister requested physiotherapists to take up the task of educating people about Right Posture, Right Habits, Right Exercises. “It is important that people adopt the right approach regarding fitness. You can do this through Articles and Lectures. And my young friends can even do it through Reels”, he said.
Drawing on his personal experience of physiotherapy, the Prime Minister said “It is my experience that when the expertise of yoga is combined with that of a physiotherapist, its power increases manifold. The common problems of the body, which often require physiotherapy, are sometimes solved in yoga as well.