CHENNAI: They don the white coats and have a 'Dr' prefixed to their names, but they aren't allowed to practice medicine - a norm that is increasingly being violated by the growing number of physiotherapy centres in the city. With no regulatory body in the state to monitor them, physiotherapists are increasingly prescribing medicines to patients.
V Usha, a 57-year-old homemaker who sought rehabilitation for a frozen shoulder in a physio centre in T- Nagar in Chennai recently, said the therapist there had offered to administer injection to help ease her pain. "He said the medication along with the exercise would help alleviate the pain and stiffness faster. I was skeptical. I asked a doctor who said it was illegal for a physiotherapist to prescribe drugs," she said. Usha lodged a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC).
Painkillers if wrongly prescribed can cause choking, mood swings, decreased cognitive function and interruptions in the menstrual cycle. Some of these medications can also be addictive.
Senior officials in TNMC, however, said the statutory body can't take action against physiotherapists for violations as they are not doctors. "We have been receiving complaints of physiotherapists starting their own centres and administering drugs. Although they are paramedical staff and not authorised to prescribe medicines, we can't initiate action against them as they are not registered in our council," said council president Dr V S Durairaj. The council acts on the complaints they receive by sending a letter of caution to these centres.
Although physiotherapists are mostly attached to hospitals, the city, over the last five years, has seen a spurt in the number of centres that cater exclusively to rehabilitation and improving mobility. V Anand, who is part of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists - a body comprising over 30,000 members - said the trend could be because of the growing occupation-related ailments that include lower back ache and neck pain.
"Physiotherapists are paid poorly at hospitals. Considering the growing need, they feel it's more lucrative to start their own centre," said Anand. "But our form of treatment is based more on physics and not than medicine. If they are found prescribing drugs, then action should be taken," he said.
However, there is no statutory body to act against them as the state has no council for physiotherapists. "At present, only four states have a council. We have been fighting for a council in Tamil Nadu for so long. It will help improve the quality of therapists. At least 70% of those practicing now are under qualified or not qualified at all," said Anand.
V Usha, a 57-year-old homemaker who sought rehabilitation for a frozen shoulder in a physio centre in T- Nagar in Chennai recently, said the therapist there had offered to administer injection to help ease her pain. "He said the medication along with the exercise would help alleviate the pain and stiffness faster. I was skeptical. I asked a doctor who said it was illegal for a physiotherapist to prescribe drugs," she said. Usha lodged a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC).
Painkillers if wrongly prescribed can cause choking, mood swings, decreased cognitive function and interruptions in the menstrual cycle. Some of these medications can also be addictive.
Senior officials in TNMC, however, said the statutory body can't take action against physiotherapists for violations as they are not doctors. "We have been receiving complaints of physiotherapists starting their own centres and administering drugs. Although they are paramedical staff and not authorised to prescribe medicines, we can't initiate action against them as they are not registered in our council," said council president Dr V S Durairaj. The council acts on the complaints they receive by sending a letter of caution to these centres.
Although physiotherapists are mostly attached to hospitals, the city, over the last five years, has seen a spurt in the number of centres that cater exclusively to rehabilitation and improving mobility. V Anand, who is part of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists - a body comprising over 30,000 members - said the trend could be because of the growing occupation-related ailments that include lower back ache and neck pain.
"Physiotherapists are paid poorly at hospitals. Considering the growing need, they feel it's more lucrative to start their own centre," said Anand. "But our form of treatment is based more on physics and not than medicine. If they are found prescribing drugs, then action should be taken," he said.
However, there is no statutory body to act against them as the state has no council for physiotherapists. "At present, only four states have a council. We have been fighting for a council in Tamil Nadu for so long. It will help improve the quality of therapists. At least 70% of those practicing now are under qualified or not qualified at all," said Anand.
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