Lisbon hosts face-to-face meeting of Executive Committee of the European Region of World Physiotherapy (ER-WCPT)The World Physiotherapy Europe Region has a lot to offer today and tomorrow. In Portugal, where the Europe Region of World Physiotherapy was founded 25 years ago, its Executive Committee was received at the Order of Physiotherapists.
The President of the Executive Committee, Esther-Mary D'Arcy2nd Vice-President, Tim Németh and the Secretary General Aitor Carpio arrived on 7 March and were received by the President of the Order of Physiotherapists, António Lopesby the 1st Vice-President, Nuno Cordeiroby the 2nd Vice-President, Conceição Bettencourt and the Members Fatima Domingues e Afonso Neutel.
The programme of the meeting, which was also attended by the President of the Jurisdictional Council, Isabel Souza Guerraand Counsellor Ana CasacaThe meeting, representing the General Council, began with a presentation of the main activities and projects of the organisation. ER-WCPT Europe RegionIn a session open by videoconference to members of the General Council and the thematic Working Groups, including those linked to areas in which the Order is already a member of the World Physiotherapy specialty groups.
Aitor Carpio gave a brief summary of the Region's activities, in particular those of the respective working groups, and highlighted the programme related to the dissemination of the importance of Physiotherapy in the prevention and rehabilitation of oncological conditions, which is the subject of European funding "EU Commission Beating Cancer Plan", and "InAbled Cities: Developing Inclusive urban environments for physical activity for people with disabilities and senior citizens", which aims to promote physical activity in urban environments for people with disabilities and/or over the age of 65.
At the second session, which was attended by the other members of the ER-WCPT Executive Committee Maria-Louisa Busuttil, Katri Partanen e Carmen Suárez, the President António Lopes summarised the work carried out in creating the foundations of the regulation of professional practiceand highlighted the main projects underway at the organisation. Order of PhysiotherapistsIn particular, the creation of proposals for a Physiotherapy professional specialities chart and for a training accreditation and evaluation system carried out after initial training, as well as the recording, monitoring and evaluating results in physiotherapy and the work of assessing the value of physiotherapy interventionsThis is a partnership with the National School of Public Health of the NOVA University of Lisbon (ENSP NOVA).
He also mentioned the need to consolidate management autonomy by Physiotherapists with the creation of Physiotherapy Services and Units in the SNS, framing the recent changes to the Statutes and the way in which they have strengthened the autonomy of Physiotherapists for the benefit of citizens and the recognition of their competence in the various areas of assessment and diagnosis and therapy, anchored in the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Regulations.