Question : Recruitment Rules for Physiotherapists

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the recommended number of physiotherapists per thousand population along with the number of physiotherapists employed in the Ministry including allied offices and autonomous organizations;

(b) whether uniform recruitment rule/ procedure is being adopted for the recruitment of physiotherapists and if so, the details thereof indicating the salient features of these rules; and

(c) the details of the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission with respect to physiotherapists and the pay scale given by the Ministry at the entry level presently?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)


(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.176* FOR 21ST DECEMBER, 2018

(a) As per available information, norms regarding physiotherapists per thousand population have not been recommended. In so far as Central Government Hospitals in Delhi i.e. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia(RML) Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals(LHMC) are concerned, the details regarding sanctioned strength/ Physiotherapist in-position are as under:

Hospital Sanctioned Strength
In-position
Safdarjung Hospital 44 29
Dr. RML Hospital 14 14
LHMC KSCH 06 05
SSKH 01 -


As far as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi is concerned, there are 62 incumbents in the cadre of Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy. Further, National Institute of Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases (NITRD), New Delhi has informed that there is only one physiotherapist in this Institute.

(b) The major uniform fields in the Recruitment Rules (RR’s) for the post of ‘Physiotherapist’ which is a General Central Service, Group B, Non-Gazetted/Non-Ministerial post in the Central Government hospitals like Safdarjung hospital and Dr. RML hospital are as under:-
• Method of Recruitment: Direct Recruitment.

• Essential qualification:
Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from a recognised University. Two years practical experience in Physiotherapy from a Government Hospital or Private hospital with at least 100 beds.
• Period of Probation: Two years

So far as Kalawati Saran Children Hospital (KSCH) is concerned, the post of physiotherapist is a Group-‘C’ post and the required education qualification as per RR is either Degree or Diploma.

(c) The Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) in its report has noted that Physiotherapy is an important field and that there is a need to attract talented professionals to this critical healthcare segment and has recommended replacement pay levels for Physiotherapist. The Commission further observed that the entry level qualification for Physiotherapist has been revised by the Government recently from existing Diploma in Physiotherapists to bachelor Degree in Physiotherapy with two years practical experience with a desirable qualification of Masters in Physiotherapy. In this backdrop, the Commission has recommended that the administrative Ministry should undertake a holistic cadre restructuring of physiotherapist.
The entry level pay scale of ‘Physiotherapist’ working in Central Government Hospitals i.e. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Kalawati Saran Children Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi is Rs. 35,400-1,12,400(Level-6) as per 7th CPC.

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