PESHAWAR, Jan 15: Lack of post-operation physiotherapy services to the people has been a hurdle in full recovery of patients in the militancy-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), say experts.

“Shortage of physiotherapists is a big problem in the province, especially in the areas where army is engaged in operation against militants. The victims are in desperate need of physiotherapy services,” said Dr Mahboobur Rehman while speaking at a function at Habib Physiotherapy Complex here on Thursday. He said that majority of patients needed physiotherapy services after treatment of injuries, but in Pakistan this specialty had not received the desired attention.

He said that the HPC had started four-year BSc and five-year Doctor of Physiotherapy degree at the Mehboob School of Physiotherapy to promote this branch of medical sciences and save people from disabilities.

“We need physiotherapists for conflict-hit areas because people there are developing contractures and other disabilities for lack of physical rehabilitation services,” he said.

Dr Rehman said that most of the victims could be treated successfully if they were provided timely services, but majority of people did not know about physical therapy.

Ali Man Shah Afridi said that the province needed services of the physiotherapists to provide post-operation services to people. He said that people who suffered stroke required different kinds of exercises alongside pharmaceutical interventions to speed up their treatment. —Bureau Report