Physical Therapy in the Asia Pacific Region Catherine Sykes Margot Skinner Gayline Manalang Usha Krishna-Gfeller 1

WCPT AWP spans three of the WHO regions Ref:

Number of physical therapists in the Asia Pacific region

Physical Therapy in the Region – Movement for Health Non communicable diseases – escalating need for education on prevention and increased physical activity Ageing population – active ageing Natural disasters – the ongoing challenge is rehabilitation to become active contributors to society Mental health – improvement in physical fitness to improve well-being

Physical therapy and NCDs Physical therapists should be available to: Be involved in preventive education programmes. Provide rehabilitation programmes that include exercise, education, and self management. WHO/PAHOhttp:// /factfiles/cancer/06_en.html

Physical therapy and NCDs Physical therapists should be available to: Participate in and promote the development of reliable, inexpensive and sustainable surveillance systems for major NCDs and their risk factors such as stroke. Provide early rehabilitation with reference to cultural, social and environmental needs. Manage patients in acute care as well as in the community to ensure that each individual has optimal physical function and is integrated into society Photos: National Stroke Association of Malaysia physio.phphttp:// physio.php

Physical therapy and the ageing population Physical therapists should be available to: Have a key role in active ageing Facilitate physical independence Prevention of ageing related disability

Physical therapy and disaster management Physical therapists are the experts in physical rehabilitation. They should have a major role in: Triage and acute care management Provision of appropriate care for and access to community environments for disabled persons along with appropriate forms of community based rehabilitation Rebuilding communities to ensure safe and accessible environments Photo courtesy of Ung Sambath Cambodia Physical Therapy Association

Physical therapy and mental health Physical therapists should be available to: Be involved in improving physical activity to assist with reduction in depression and anxiety, improved physical status, improved cognitive function, and facilitation of behavioural lifestyle change. Physiotherapists working in mental health are uniquely placed to provide an extensive range of physical approaches to treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.

New Zealand Total population 4,266,000 Gross national income per capita (PPP international $) 25,200 Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2009) 2,667 Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2009) 9.7 Source: World Health Organization Physical therapists 4166 Source:Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand Annual Report

Physical Therapy and New Zealand Physical therapists have: Regulation Direct access for patients throughout the age range Entry level degree and formal postgraduate qualifications Participation in health professional rural immersion education programmes Training in programmes to provide quit smoking education to patients

Fiji Total population 849,000 Gross national income per capita (PPP international $) 4,320 Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2009) 165 Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2009) 3.6 Source: World health Organization Physiotherapists 58 (2011) Source: Fiji Physiotherapy Association 12

Fiji School of Physiotherapy at the Fiji National University (FNU) in Suva Education of PTs from many countries in the Pacific region FNU also runs CBR programmes Fiji Physiotherapy Association runs continuing professional development courses Regulation introduced in November

Philippines Total population 91,983,000 Gross national income per capita (PPP international $) 3,900 Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2009) 136 Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2009) 3.8 Source: World Health Organization Physical therapists: 23,897( ) Source: Philippines Physical Therapy Association 14

Philippines The CBR course is mandated in the BS Physical Therapy curriculum – as a subject and as a requirement for community internship. PPTA signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR), University of Toronto Clinical training program enhancement, skills enhancement, and program evaluation for clinical supervisors (CS) and clinical instructors (CI) “PPTA Balikbayan Seminar”, CPD with homecoming Filipinos 15

WCPT Asia Western Pacific Region China: Emergency response Building the profession – programmes recently developed in a few universities Establishment and assessment of entry level programmes against WCPT standards 16

WCPT Member organisations in the region Nepal – student exchange programme with Australia South Korea has developed leadership in ICF Australia – sponsorship for delegates from low resourced countries in the region to attend congress 17

WCPT activities in support of physical therapy Policies and guidelines Continuing professional development World Physical Therapy day 8 September annually Congress every 4 years Policy summits World Health Professions Alliance Data base of physical therapist expertise 18

Next steps Revised collaborative plan of work for WCPT and WHO Disability and Rehabilitation Team Ongoing support for China and other countries developing the physical therapy profession World Health Professions Alliance projects on collaborative practice and NCDs. 19