Article

Disability is a stigma in Pakistan, and cultural norms are a hindrance to the
integration of the disabled into the community. Additional barriers to addressing
the needs of the disabled include the lack of reliable disability epidemiologic
data, inadequate funding and poor health care infrastructure, and workforce
shortages. The aim of this report is to present an overview of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation (PM&R) in Pakistan, covering its origins, current status, and
future directions. An electronic literature search (1950-2009) was conducted
using the Medline, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, CINAHL, and Google Scholar
databases. The key words used were "disability," "persons with disability"
(PWDs), "rehabilitation," "Pakistan," "developing countries," "stroke," "spinal
cord injury," "causes," "attitudes," "physiotherapy," "occupational therapy," and
"speech therapy." Only publications in English involving physical disability were
selected. Statistical data were obtained from the Federal Bureau of Statistics.
Interviews with pioneers of rehabilitation medicine in Pakistan, PWDs, and their
families were conducted. The origins of PM&R in Pakistan date to the 1960s, but
the formal training program began only in 1997. There are only a few
rehabilitation departments, and none have all the standard components of a
rehabilitation team. The number of practicing rehabilitation consultants is 38.
There are an estimated 1000 physical therapists and 150 occupational therapists.
There is a need to increase the number of rehabilitation facilities
significantly, staff them appropriately, and make them accessible to all who need
them, including rural and remote regions. Discrimination should be addressed by
education and legislation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS