The official ceremony of the inauguration of the first Statutory Bodies of the Order of Physiotherapists took place on 14th December 2021 at the Auditório of the Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados, in Lisbon.
This ceremony was attended by around 100 guests, including the State Secretary for Health, António Lacerda Sales, the President of the ACSS, Vítor Herdeiro, the President of the National Council of Professional Orders (CNOP), Carlos Mineiro Aires, representatives of the Social Partners and Professional Associations and physiotherapists, who honoured this historic moment with their presence.
The President of the Installation Commission (CI) of the Order of Physiotherapists (Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados), Isabel de Souza Guerra, opened the session by thanking and greeting all those present, especially the President of the Portuguese Certified Public Accountants Order, for lending the excellent auditorium for this event.
She thanked the work done by the excellent team that accompanied her as setting up committee, in which solid and secure foundations were laid for the future of the organisation, which is desired to be strong and innovative and to represent the profession and all physiotherapists with dignity.
He framed all the work developed by the IC, in particular the registration and electoral processes, greeting the elected members, and then swore in the 50 members of the General Council, in the person of the President of the General Council, Rui Jorge Dias Costa.
Maria da Conceição Bettencourt, member of the IC of the Order, announced her honour and signature of the term of acceptance of the Jurisdictional Council, in the person of its President, Isabel de Souza Guerra, identifying the remaining 4 elements that compose the body.
Next, the President of the IC of the Order also announced the honour and signature of the term of office of the President of the Order, António Manuel Fernandes Lopes, giving him the floor for his inauguration speech.
The first President of the Order of Physiotherapists spoke a few words, thanked all those who have accompanied him in his personal and professional life, especially his family, and left the guidelines of his proposed mandate.
From his speech, some topics of reference for the defence of the citizen stand out, which he will try to implement, such as the possibility of physiotherapists being able to refer users to other health professionals or to "a more qualified physiotherapist whenever the situation justifies it", even pointing out that "we already have in our country many examples of good practices in this domain that we have to value and spread".
António Manuel Fernandes Lopes argues that it is necessary to create the conditions for physiotherapists to define the best way to allocate resources according to the needs of the users in an integrated perspective and continuity of care, supported by the demonstration of the results of their intervention, sustained by cost-benefit studies and evaluation of the levels of satisfaction by the citizens themselves.
He also underlined that physiotherapists are professionals of choice to solve problems in the system of movement and functionality and, in this way, also contribute to the reduction of health costs and the economic and social impact of the disease. For him "it is imperative to act preventively".
The ceremony closed with the presence and speech of the Assistant Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, representing the Minister of Health, Marta Temido.
In his speech he highlighted the contribution of the Order to "the provision of physiotherapy care with quality, with safety, with good results provided by certified and competent professionals". "Its priority should in fact be the defence of the fundamental rights of citizens and the safeguarding of the public interest, resisting the corporate temptations of unionisation". The new Order has an even "greater relevance" if we consider that physiotherapy is one of the most represented professions in the provision of health care, involving more than 14,000 professionals in Portugal, he stressed in his speech.
The Event ended with a brief moment of fraternization accompanied by a Cocktail of Honour.
Follow the event in the Photo Gallery here
You can also watch or re-watch the film of the event here
