LAHORE, Jan 19: University of Health Sciences (UHS) Vice-Chancellor Prof IA Naveed has said the university is committed to strengthening allied health sciences education, research and providing courses and training to allied health personnel through formal, distance learning and e-learning.

Addressing the newly-admitted class of two-year transitional programme in Doctors of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) on Saturday, the VC said the programme was designed to provide contemporary knowledge and skills to practicing physical therapists for better treatment.

“What makes physical therapists important is that they know how to look at the bigger picture and take care of the smallest details, which sometimes mean nothing to others, even patients themselves. But at the end, they make a huge difference,” he added.

He emphasised the need for research and evidence-based clinical practice and said there would be no compromise on quality and standards of education at the university.

UHS Registrar Dr Asad Zaheer said the role of physiotherapists was important because they took care of all three dimensions of healthcare – preventive, curative, and promotive. He said the university was in contact with the Higher Education Commission to make the t-DPT programme equivalent to MPhil.

Course Coordinator Dr Muhammad Asim said the curriculum of t-DPT had been designed in line with international standards with a focus on evidence-based format. The teaching process would include the highly sophisticated web portal to encourage constant and active learning among students in terms of discussion board activities and projects, he added.

Faculty member Dr Fariha Shah said across the globe physical therapy had gotten recognition in healthcare due to its research-backed validity as a necessary and important treatment for patients suffering from a variety of pathologies, including musculo-skeletal, neuro-muscular, cardiopulmonary, integumatary, vestibular and sports related injuries.

She said the launch of the new programme by UHS would ensure the knowledge required of these professionals would truly be displayed through their practice.