Article Details

A Brief Review of Physiotherapy Migration in the Indian Communities | Original Article

Yamini Sharma*, in International Journal of Physical Education & Sports Sciences | Physical Education, Health, Fitness & Sports

ABSTRACT:

It is estimated that an additional 6.4 million allied health professionals are required to address India's health challenges. One of the largest of these professions is physiotherapy. Thousands of Indian physiotherapists have been working in the last decade to study and work abroad. 19 physiotherapists have been interviewed in this study from all over India. In accordance with constructionist grounded theory methods, data were collected and analysed. The results indicate that there are numerous political and clinical hierarchical challenges for the Indian health infrastructure in the Indian physiotherapy profession. Education in the profession has developed and the private clinical sector has grown, but the quality and standards across the sector are significantly different. In India, the profession has variable independence, is not regulated nationally, is poorly paid and leadership is split up. In Indian physiotherapy, the political, educational and clinical context affects physiotherapists' ability to exercise effectively to their professional satisfaction. Individual physiotherapists are frustrated at the job and traveling abroad, when they hear that the profession and practice of physiotherapy are different. As the disjuncture continues to influence these factors, and physiotherapy is seen as different and superior in other countries, Indian physiotherapists will continue to migrate to other countries and will make their return easier.