Peshawar(Fatima Jafar)According to UG news UK United kingdom,Representatives of the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) community held a strategic and productive meeting with Dr. Syed Muhammad Ilyas (Senior Physiotherapist, Rehabilitation Activist and CEO Paraplegic Center Peshawar) to discuss the pressing issue of regulatory misclassification of P&O within the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC).Currently, the AHPC lists “Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation” as Discipline No. 13, with “Orthotics and Prosthetics” wrongly categorized as subsection 13-A.
This structural misclassification not only diminishes the identity and autonomy of qualified Prosthetists and Orthotists, but also contradicts global regulatory frameworks and educational standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics ISPO International. During the meeting, the participants formally presented their recommendations and demanded the provincial government for considering it on top priority basis. Firstly the establishment of Prosthetics & Orthotics as a standalone discipline within the AHPC registry (not as under Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation). Independent recognition of P&O as a separate discipline and secondly a dedicated registry category for Prosthetists & Orthotists.Dr. Ilyas Syed responded with strong support, affirming:
“Comprehensive rehabilitation is incomplete without Prosthetics & Orthotics. It is a distinct and vital discipline that must be recognized as a distinct & independent profession within Pakistan’s health regulatory framework.”In a powerful show of solidarity, Dr. Haider Darain (Senior Physiotherapist & Chairman of the AHPC Advisory Committee), joined the meeting online on Dr. Ilyas Syed’s request.
Dr. Ilyas Syed passionately conveyed the collective concerns of the P&O community to the government highlighting the consequences of current misclassification including professional ambiguity, limited global mobility, and risks to clinical governance.Dr. Haider Darain expressed his full support, assuring that:
“This matter will be formally placed on the agenda of the upcoming AHPC committee meeting. I recognize the importance of independent recognition for P&O and commit to raising this issue within council proceedings.Beyond the core discussion, the meeting also explored the broader vision of inclusive and interdisciplinary rehabilitation in Pakistan.Dr. Ilyas Syed shared inspiring insights into the journey and revival of Paraplegic Center Peshawar, emphasizing the importance of teamwork across all rehabilitation disciplines to ensure quality care for individuals with disabilities.All participants unanimously agreed that in future such collaborative forums must continue in the future to address systemic challenges, build unified advocacy, and ensure that comprehensive rehabilitation is effectively integrated into health institutions nationwide.
And to contribute meaningfully to an inclusive society where individuals with disabilities receive the specialized care they deserve.The participants extended sincere thanks to Dr. Ilyas Syed, Dr. Haider Darain and Dr. Irfan Ullah for their commitment, unwavering support to advancing the rightful recognition of Prosthetics & Orthotics (P&O) as an independent allied health profession in Pakistan.
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