The President of the Order of Physiotherapists, António Lopes, was invited to take part in the discussion of the Strategic Plan of the Escola Superior de Saúde de Santa Maria (ESSSM) for the years 2023-2027, which took place on 4 June at the Colégio Luso-Francês in Porto, with the presence of the Board of Directors, Teachers, Employees, Students and Partners of ESSSM.
With a reflection centred on the history and future of Physiotherapy, the President presented the integrated perspective of the work that the Order is doing to develop and affirm the profession. António Lopes pointed out that there are three driving forces behind the development of the profession: one centred on the regulatory (legislative) framework and planning of human resources in the health area; one centred on the production and preparation of the necessary human resources and a third that employs existing human resources. He emphasised that although each pole has different actors, decision-makers and dynamics, the three influence each other and a change in one pole can have an impact on the others.
From this reflection come the three pillars that guide the mandate of the current Board of the Order of Physiotherapists:
- Physiotherapy, as a scientific discipline (a hub for basic and specialised education and research);
- Physiotherapy as a regulated profession (pole of the regulatory framework - to which self-regulation has now been added, and the redefinition of the professional profile, the creation of the code of ethics and technical standards;
- Physiotherapy as a service (a centre for the employment and use of physiotherapists, in a variety of sectors and contexts).
In this context, the President took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of joint and regular work between higher education institutions and the Order of Physiotherapists, in order to maximise the gains that the Order's regulatory role could have on education and the effective provision of physiotherapy services.
