KUALA LUMPUR: The Private Physiotherapy Clinics Association of Malaysia (PPCOA) has appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to place physiotherapy courses within the national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
Its president, Datuk Dr Balwant Singh Bains, said that while they appreciate the government's initiative to address the shortage of physiotherapists in Malaysia, they also believe that this approach will not benefit the quality of the profession and could adversely affect the wellbeing of the people.
He highlighted that integrating physiotherapy courses into TVET is unsuitable, given that the field has evolved into a highly specialised healthcare profession requiring stringent entry qualifications and a strong foundation in science subjects, in line with global standards.
"Physiotherapy is not merely a technical skill; it is a comprehensive medical discipline involving the understanding of complex human anatomy, physiology, and pathology to provide effective patient care.
"Therefore, we urge the government to reconsider placing physiotherapy under the TVET programme,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 24).
In fact, Dr Balwant Singh said it would be more beneficial to enhance existing physiotherapy programmes within medical and health faculties, ensuring they are accessible and adequately funded.
"This will maintain the high standards of the profession and ensure that physiotherapists in Malaysia are equipped to provide the best possible care to patients,” he said.
He also emphasised the need for consulting with stakeholders before implementing any changes to the physiotherapy profession.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the government would introduce physiotherapy certification courses into the national TVET curriculum.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, stated that such courses are needed to address the imbalance in the ratio of physiotherapists to the national population, which currently stands at one physiotherapist to 7,400 people - significantly lower than in developed countries. - Bernama
