Concerns voiced on acute shortage of physiotherapists

KARACHI: Pakistan is grappling with a growing shortage of physiotherapists at a time when the country is witnessing an alarming rise in chronic diseases, disabilities, sports injuries, road accidents, and stroke cases, creating a significant gap in rehabilitation services and patient care. This shortage of qualified physiotherapists is undermining the country’s ability to meet the rehabilitation needs of millions of people, increasing the risk of long-term disability, reduced productivity, and declining quality of life among patients. According to data from World Physiotherapy, the global body representing physical therapy professionals, Pakistan has only around 0. 54 physiotherapists per 10, 000 people, translating into an estimated 13, 000 to 14, 000 practicing physiotherapists for a population exceeding 240 million. The figure remains considerably lower than many developed countries, where physiotherapist density often ranges from 5 to 20 professionals per 10, 000 people, and in some cases even higher. The low workforce density highlights a substantial rehabilitation gap in Pakistan, particularly as the country faces a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, road traffic injuries, stroke cases, disabilities, and an aging population requiring long-term physical care and rehabilitation. Dr Waqas Ahmed, a senior physiotherapist and sports rehabilitation specialist, said Pakistan’s healthcare system urgently requires a larger pool of qualified physiotherapists to effectively manage the increasing number of patients requiring rehabilitation and mobility restoration. The role of physiotherapists has expanded significantly over the past two decades, ” he said, adding: “Today, physiotherapists are an integral part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams and contribute to patient care in acute hospitals, orthopaedics, neurological rehabilitation, sports medicine, intensive care units, pain management centers, community health programmes, geriatric care, and chronic disease management. ” He explained that physiotherapists design evidence-based exercise and rehabilitation programmes that help patients regain mobility, improve physical fitness, reduce pain, and enhance their overall quality of life. Dr Ahmed noted that Pakistan is witnessing a steady increase in diabetes and stroke cases, both of which frequently leave patients with mobility impairments and reduced physical function. “Without adequate rehabilitation services, many patients struggle to return to normal life and productive employment, ” he said. “The country must invest in expanding its physiotherapy workforce to address the emerging healthcare challenges. ” Pakistan currently has around 100 institutions offering degree programmes in physiotherapy. However, healthcare professionals believe the number of graduates entering the workforce remains insufficient to meet the rapidly growing demand for rehabilitation services. Rashid Khan, a British-Pakistani physiotherapist, said physical therapy has become a priority area in many developed healthcare systems due to its proven role in reducing disability, accelerating recovery, and lowering healthcare costs. “Unfortunately, physiotherapy has not received the attention it deserves in Pakistan, ” he said. “There is a need for a comprehensive government policy that promotes physiotherapy education, expands employment opportunities, and allocates dedicated positions for physiotherapists in public-sector hospitals. ” He noted that while government support remains limited, the private healthcare sector has increasingly recognized the value of rehabilitation services in Pakistan. Many private hospitals andhealthcare facilities have established specialized physiotherapy and rehabilitation departments to improve patient outcomes. The migration of qualified physiotherapists to overseas markets has further aggravated the shortage. Countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Gulf states continue to attract Pakistani physiotherapists with higher salaries, better career progression, and more advanced healthcare infrastructure, he pointed out. Pakistan’s shortage reflects a broader global challenge. Across the world, healthcare systems are struggling to meet increasing rehabilitation demands driven by aging populations, rising rates of chronic diseases, disabilities, injuries, and post-surgical recovery needs. Recognising the growing importance of rehabilitation, the World Health Organisation’s Rehabilitation 2030 initiative calls on countries to integrate rehabilitation services into their healthcare systems and strengthen workforce capacity to address the increasing burden of disability. Experts believe Pakistan must adopt a similar approach by investing in physiotherapy education, expanding employment opportunities, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and integrating rehabilitation services more effectively into the national healthcare system. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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