[ISS-01-1] World Physical Therapy Challenge for the Profession
Physical therapy was first in need in Taiwan in 1960s because of polio outbreak that required provision of rehabilitation to surviving individuals with physical disability. To meet the increased demand in the quantity and quality of physical therapy services for various types of patients with dysfunctions or disabilities in the past five decades, 14 schools have consecutively launched entry-level programs（approximately 1000 students per year）and 8 universities have launched graduate programs（approximately 80 master students and 20 doctoral students per year）to consolidate the education and research bases. Furthermore, the legislature was passed in 1994 for examination and regulation of the profession that up to now there are over 6,000 registered physical therapists in the country. The global healthcare issues relevant to physical therapy profession in the 21th century have included aging population, in-equal healthcare resources, insufficient physical activity, and incrementing non-communicable diseases. These new issues have brought challenges as well as opportunities to our profession that the World Confederation for Physical Therapy has broaden the scope of physical therapy practice to disability rehabilitation, dysfunction treatment, disease prevention, and health promotion. To fulfill the modern role of physical therapists, Taiwan Physical Therapy Association has held a series of meetings in this fiscal year to establish“2030 Taiwan Physical Therapy Vision：Provision of High-Standard and Accountable Physical Therapy Services.”Goals and strategic plans in the aspects of education, research, examination and practice are currently under development.