Reference invitation for submitting memorandum by standing Committee on Central Council i.e. National Commission for Human Resource in Health Draft Bill 2011 via Advt dated 8th Jan 2012 published in TIMES OF INDIA, I am hereby forwading you all a brief draft with main headings for submitting representation letter to below mentioned address.
Its a request to all Occupational Therapy professional to send as many representations as possible both from India & abroad
The desirous of submitting memorandum to the Committee may send copies thereof, either in English or Hindi, to Smt.Arpna Mendiratta, Joint Director, Room No.222, Rajjay Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 [Tel: 23035428 (o), Fax.: 230120007] within 30 days of publication [8-1-2012] of the advertisement. Beside, those who are desirous of giving oral evidence before the Committee on the Bill are requested to indicate so, for consideration of the Committee.
The memoranda submitted to the Committee will form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as strictly confidential and may not be made public as such an act would constitute breach of privilege of the Committee.
To
Smt Aparna Mendiratta,
Joint Director
Room No. 222, Rajya Sabha Secretariat ,
Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001
Sub: Memoranda for inclusion of Occupational Therapy
Profession in Section 2 (w,x, z) of Draft Bill
National Commission for Human Resource in Health Draft Bill,
2011
Reference: -1] The assurance given by the then Minister of
State for Health and Family Welfare on the Floor of House regarding formation
of Separate Council for Occupational Therapy 28th April 1983.
2] Decision taken by the Hon’ble Minister of State Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare to have an independent Council under the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare with Separate Cells for Occupational Therapists
and Physiotherapists. 24th March 1988.
3] Budget estimate No. Z. 15011/5/3S-BP of Ministry of H
& FW, Director General Health Services
4] Thirty First report submitted by the Chairman of the
Department related Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Health and Family Welfare on the Paramedical
and Physiotherapy Central Council Bill 2007 to Rajya Sabha 21.10.2008.
Respected Madam/Sir,
With reference to the subject mentioned above, I Dr……….
Occupational Therapist /………… want to submit the instant representation. As you
could see the subject mentioned above, clearly indicates the issue involved in
making this representation.
First of all I would
like to invite your attention to the
term of OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY as in our Country unfortunately this profession
is neglected though it is helpful in all
the avenues of life and although the said Profession is having its own identity worldwide still it is neglected in
our Country since long. We have been trying to ventilate our grievance
regarding grant of due and legitimate recognition to the said profession by
either forming a separate Central Council of the OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY or including
Occupational Therapy as separate Department to the OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY in the
said Council.
I am constrained to mention that for all these years the
profession of OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY has received recognition in about 60
Countries however, in other Countries the said profession has reached to the
zenith but at the same time although our Country is one of those Countries who
recognize the profession still we are facing certain difficulties in getting
the proper recognition due to the inaction on the part of Government.
“Occupational therapy” means a specialized branch of medical
health sciences to prevent, cure / treat or rehabilitate any physical, mental
and psychosocial illness / impairment or dysfunction. It includes examination /
assessment, prescribing investigation, interpretation, establishing OT
diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation to any person for the purpose
of preventing, alleviating / correcting or limiting acute & chronic illness
/ impairment, dysfunction or bodily malfunction via specialized assessment and
treatment techniques, procedures and approaches.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY includes sensorimotor developmental
procedures & techniques in NICU; and techniques & procedures for
facilitating healing and pain relief to facilitate normal sensory motor
development, promote health & improving context specific functional
performance abilities. It involves application of specialized evaluation /
assessment techniques, procedures and approaches; Purposeful goal-oriented
activity through latest technology, education and training in activities of
daily living (ADL); designing, fabrication, prescription and application of
assistive technology aids & appliances; , therapeutic activities,
ergonomical modifications & environmental restructuring; prevocational &
vocational evaluation and training & consultation provided to individuals
or groups to both indoor and outdoor patient in order to achieve optimum
functioning, prevent disability and maintaining health and functional
performance abilities.
‘DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE SUBMITTED THIRTY – FIRST REPORT ON PARAMEDICAL AND PHYSIOTHERAPY
CENTRAL COUNCILS BILL 2007’ before Rajya Sabha on 21.10.2008. In the said
report the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has in clear terms accepted
the Error in the definition of OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY in the proposed bill and
suggests inclusion of OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY with a new definition. The said
committee on the basis of the aforesaid acceptance by the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare in Para 9.17 of the said report observed as under:
The Committee recommended that Occupational Therapy is an
independent profession with entirely different course of study, mode of
treatment and approach in treatment and rehabilitation of patients and cannot
be directed nor can be merged with heterogeneous group of professionals like
paramedics. The Committee was informed that both ‘OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY’ is a recognized
discipline in educational institutions, Hospitals and medical institutions
across the Country. The Standing Committee was also in consonance with the
opinion of the Occupational Therapy professionals that there is a dire need of
the formation of Central Council of “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY”.
After the lapse of time the Government thereafter comes with
a new proposed bill namely “THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HUMAN RESOURCES IN HEALTH
DRAFT BILL, 2009”. In fact, the said draft of the aforesaid bill comes like a
bolt from the blue to the Occupational Therapy professional as there is not
even a whisper of “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY” in the entire bill.
The Occupational Therapy professionals have received a big
jolt after going through the aforesaid draft as earlier the Government has
categorically accepted that, the separate Council should be formed for
“OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY”. Now in the proposed draft bill there is no mention of
“OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY” at all. It appears government has again merged the
Occupational Therapy profession with a heterogeneous group of professionals with
intent to include them under paramedics which is unacceptable to Occupational
Therapy professionals as well as to World Federation of Occupational Therapist
and WHO.
This is nothing but
the most casual approach on the part of the Government as although it is well within
their knowledge that, it is a persistent demand of the Occupational Therapy
professionals for formation of Central Council for the “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY” since
long, still they have not even included the profession in the new proposed
draft bill. However, now the Occupational Therapy fraternity is afraid that the
profession of “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY” would cease to exist in our country.
If the Government or the concerned authorities are of the
view that the profession of “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY” is not recognized then one
can understand the callous attitude of the concerned authority or the
Department. However, here is a case in which the authorities have categorically
recognized the said profession and still are not taking any action for the
betterment of not only the profession but for the betterment of public at
large. If the National or Central Council for “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY” is formed
then ultimate beneficiary would be public at large along with the professionals
of Occupational Therapy.
The Government from time to time also in principal agreed
for that on various occasions, however, there is no execution of the same on
the part of the Government for last so many years. In fact, the Government is
not considering the issue as seriously as it ought to be. The technicalities
put forth by the Government can be sorted out if Occupational Therapy
profession is included in the proposed NCHRH Bill 2011as separate department.
I therefore once again humbly request the Government to
kindly look into the aforesaid issue and do the needful at the earliest by
taking appropriate steps in the interest of the profession of “OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY”.
DATE:
(Dr )Resi:
