Senior physiotherapist Dr. Ratnesh Chaudhary calls for official recognition of physiotherapy as a system of medicine at Asia‑Pacific conference in Patna

Patna, Bihar – During the World Physiotherapy Conference’s Asia‑Pacific segment, Dr. Ratnesh Chaudhary, a senior physiotherapist from IGIMS, raised a formal request for the physiotherapy discipline to be acknowledged as a separate system of medicine. He highlighted the growing body of evidence supporting physiotherapy’s role in preventive care, rehabilitation, and chronic disease management, arguing that official recognition would enhance professional standards and patient trust.

The appeal was directed at national health regulators and the Ministry of Health, with Dr. Chaudhary emphasizing that such status would facilitate standardized curricula, regulated practice, and better integration of physiotherapy services within the public health framework.

Organisers of the conference noted the significance of the demand, stating that the session will be forwarded to relevant policy‑making bodies for further deliberation. No immediate decision was announced, but the call reflects a broader movement among Indian physiotherapy professionals seeking formal acknowledgment of their field.