The role of Occupational Therapists in changing times and amidst lifestyle changes has assumed immense importance in the field of healthcare, Odisha’s minister for health and family welfare, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, said on Friday.
The central government had recognized the importance of occupational therapy by enacting the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act in 2021, and the Odisha government would take steps to frame cadre rules for physio and occupational therapists, Dr. Mahaling said while addressing the 63rd annual national conference of the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA), which began here.
The act is intended to ensure the regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by allied and healthcare professionals. The minister said, considering the importance of the role played by occupational therapists, the government would ensure employment of trained therapists.
Dr. Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Member of Lok Sabha, who attended the inaugural session as a guest of honour, underlined the need for strengthening the profession of Occupational Therapy and ensuring that the benefit reached those who needed it most.
“Occupational Therapy lies at the very heart of rehabilitation, helping individuals with functional limitations to lead lives of dignity, independence, productivity and purpose,” Dr. Tarai said.
“The conference had reinforced the important realization that though it had a rich legacy and deep-rooted relevance, it continued to remain outside the broader public consciousness. People are not aware of the vast scope of the transformative impact of Occupational Therapy,” he said.
“Despite its invaluable contribution to society, occupational therapy receives far less recognition than it truly deserves,” Dr. Tarai said while pointing out that a huge gap existed between trained manpower and service delivery, which needed to be bridged.
The theme of the conference is ‘Tradition to Technology: Embracing Cultural Diversity in Occupational Therapy,’ which reflects the profession’s commitment to integrating cultural values with modern technological advancements to enhance healthcare outcomes and rehabilitation.