Human chain formed at National Mental Health Institute and Hospital protesting recruitment notification

Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association ( BPA) on Tuesday demanded a revision of the educational qualification and grade of the post of physiotherapy in the recruitment notification published on 24 April at the National Mental Health Institute and Hospital.

Professionals, Bangladesh Physiotherapy Student Union (BAPSU) and general students formed a human chain on Tuesday in front of the National Mental Health Institute and Hospital.

There will be stricter programmes and legal action will be taken in this regard, they said.

At the same time, Dr. Shafiullah Pradhaniyya, vice president of the organisation, said physiotherapy is one of the treatment methods in the modern medical system. 

"The importance of this medical system is increasing day by day worldwide, but in Bangladesh too, the number of patients with long-term pain, paralysis, and disabilities is high, but a kind of fascist system has been created in the health sector, which is not allowing the appointment of physiotherapists in government hospitals in this health system."

"The medical system is being taken over by the Kwak and businessmen, and as a result, the consumers, the patients, are the victims/damaged. Such a fascist system must be thrown out immediately," he said.

Bangladesh Physiotherapy Student Union (BAPSU) President Md. Ashiqur Rahman said, after getting a chance in secondary and higher secondary, students have to study physiotherapy for five years after passing the admission test with a GPA-5 in 2 hours and become physiotherapists, but there is no department in our government hospitals due to an invisible barrier.

"The National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital has issued a recruitment notice for the post of physiotherapist which did not ask for the educational qualification of a physiotherapist. If physiotherapy could be done with science, higher secondary and practical experience, then there would be no need to fight the admission test after higher secondary and study for 5 years."

"I demand that such a hateful recruitment advertisement be corrected immediately, otherwise the student community will be forced to take strict action in this regard," he said.

Acting General Secretary of the organisation Dr. Delwar Hossain Chowdhury said, "According to the existing Bangladesh Rehabilitation Act-2018 and the curriculum of the university, the Bachelor of Physiotherapy/Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy degree from a university recognised by the Bangladesh government is five years in duration and the holders of that degree have no opportunity to become physiotherapists other than physiotherapists. 

"But it is very unfortunate that we have noticed that the circular for the post of physiotherapist in the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital has been issued where the educational qualification sought is Higher Secondary Science Department and only those with practical experience can apply."

"How does a high school graduate become a physiotherapist? Such a recruitment notice will create a huge crisis in the health system. The common citizens of the country will be the victims of malpractice. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, there was and is currently a ninth grade post for the post of physiotherapist, but the National Mental Health Institute and Hospital recruitment notice has set the 12th grade for physiotherapists, which is completely unreasonable and this circular is aggravating physiotherapy professionals," he said.

He said such a recruitment notice will create obstacles in ensuring scientific modern medical care for the general public.

After the human chain, a delegation led by Dr. Muhammad Touhiduzzaman visited the office of the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital with a memorandum demanding correction of the educational qualification and grade of the recruitment notification for the post of physiotherapy.