Thanks to enthusiastic interprofessional collaboration, a recent meeting in Pakistan made significant strides in enhancing the capacity of rehabilitation professionals, academic institutions, and regulation stakeholders to deliver education and services of global standards for community wellbeing.
At the end of April, a 3-day ReLAB-HS training session took place in Pakistan—this marked the second in-person gathering this year focused on building the capacity of the rehabilitation workforce. The event brought together 30 participants from academic institutions and professional associations across two Pakistani provinces, KP and Sindh. Cheryl Footer, Yara Peterko, and Neelum Zehra from Physiopedia hosted the meeting to continue implementation of the International Rehabilitation Education and Training Toolkit (IRETT), specifically the Professionalisation and Regulation Reflection Tool (PRRT) and the Academic Program Reflection Tool (APRT).
The PRRT uses a process of reflective review to identify opportunities to develop policies that professionalise and strengthen the regulation of the rehabilitation professions. The use of the PRRT facilitated progress towards the creation of a code of ethics for the rehabilitation professions and the definition of the scope of practice of each profession, which could lead to its implementation at national level in Pakistan.
I wanted to extend my deepest gratitude for your invaluable guidance regarding developing scope of practice for PT. Not only did it allowed me to understand the critical aspects related developing scope of practice but it also provided an opportunity to review and provide opinion on scope of practice developed by fellow OTs, SLT and P&Os…an opportunity to deepen our understanding of each other’s work and scope of practice. I believe such understanding would ultimately result in enhanced collaboration and cooperation in our fields. – Dr Muhammad Ehab Azim Physiotherapist, PPTA, AHPC member
The APRT is dedicated to strengthening rehabilitation academic programmes and was utilised to identify opportunities for improvement within Pakistani academic programmes. This, in turn, will fortify the rehabilitation workforce to meet global standards of practice.
This training balanced theoretical frameworks with practical insights, equipping me with a comprehensive understanding of academic and professional responsibilities within the realm of rehabilitation… Through interactive sessions and group activities, I gained invaluable insights into the nuanced challenges and evolving trends within the field, empowering me to craft responsive and impactful programs that resonate with diverse communities. Overall, these tools implementation activities have enhanced my proficiency. Also, instilled in me a deeper sense of responsibility and purpose within the realm of rehabilitation – Shahabudin, Senior Occupational Therapist/ Lecturer, Ziauddin University
The event provided an opportunity for collaboration between various professions, sparking lively discussions and interprofessional cooperation between audiologists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, prosthetists and orthotists, and speech and language therapists.
Participants shared their professional experience, challenges, strategies and resources, while learning how to use PRRT and APRT effectively for continuous improvement and development through self-reflection.
These are not only words, we can achieve that!
This meeting offered a unique opportunity for different professions to work together, inspiring all to continue to collaborate to strengthen the rehabilitation professions as a cohesive group. Insights from these discussions will better equip participants to tackle practical challenges in their settings, supporting the long-term sustainability of these activities.
