The importance of physiotherapists in our medical sector cannot be overlooked. Yes, some of us might go the Traditional Chinese Medicine way to treat our injuries. However, physiotherapy plays a significant role in helping patients with their recovery and rehabilitation.
As general medical fees increase, it is unsurprising that patients are finding physiotherapy treatment to be pricey, especially in the private sector.
Read Also: Medical Inflation At 15% – Why That Spells Disaster
Qualifications
Qualifications to be a physiotherapist do not come easy. There are 3 main ways aspiring physiotherapists can get their qualifications to be able to practice physiotherapy.
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Diploma in Physiotherapy
Most of the physiotherapists in the profession today are holders of this diploma from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). This 3-year course has been one of the more common choices of education for aspiring physiotherapists as it can be pursued locally.
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Overseas Education
This is only if you can afford it because physiotherapy degrees are offered in countries such as Australia and Ireland where tuition fees and cost of daily expenses are not cheap.
Many students choose to take up a scholarship (usually under Ministry Of Health) when pursuing physiotherapy overseas. Besides reducing their financial burden, scholarships provide them assurance with jobs in the public sector when they complete their degree.
Read Also: How Affordable Are Overseas Universities Compared To Singapore Universities?
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Honours Degree in Bachelor Of Science In Physiotherapy
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) has paired up with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) to offer an Honours degree in Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy. This is a four-year degree programme opened to both A level and diploma holders. NYP Diploma in Physiotherapy graduates may apply for the one-year Bachelor in Science (Physiotherapy) Programme offered by TCD, which means an additional 1 year on top of their 3 years study in NYP.
A government-funded honours programme, this collaboration between SIT and TCD includes a 6-week attachment in Dublin, Ireland.
This new degree program is a great step for all aspiring physiotherapists. They now have the option of pursuing a degree in physiotherapy locally, which is a more viable and cost-effective option for some students.
Supply & Demand
In Singapore hospitals, positions that require allied health professionals are often short-handed. Besides the hospitals, professional physios are spread out over various sectors. Physiotherapists are also required in nursing homes, senior care centres, special schools, sports institutes, community hospitals and more.
With a referral often required to book an appointment with a physiotherapist, many patients head directly to private physiotherapy clinics for a faster way to get treatment.
Physiotherapy sessions are also considered lengthy when compared to a typical consultation at the doctors. Physiotherapy sessions include both consultation and treatment, usually taking about an hour for each patient.
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To See A Physiotherapist?
[Editor’s Note: Details in the article have been edited as of 26 July 2016. Holders of the NYP Diploma in Physiotherapy would only require 1 year instead of the usual 4 years to obtain the degree from SIT-TCD.]
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