Spotlight on controversial recruitment test Health sector hampered by lack of physiotherapists

Physiotherapy graduates have not been recruited for employment in the state sector during the past 4-6 years creating a deficit of employees in service and inconveniencing patients as well. To add to the problem there is a scarcity of professionals in the field here in Sri Lanka. The Government Physiotherapy Officer’s Association, (GPOA) underscores that there is a shortage of physiotherapists in necessary units in state hospitals. 
 “There’s a need for 850 physiotherapists. But only 700 physiotherapists are in occupation. There is a deficit of 150,” stated GPOA President Chandana Deshapriya. He highlighted the reason for the deficit as many Physiotherapists who have left Sri Lanka have immigrated in search of foreign occupations and some who were in service have retired. Moreover, he added that there are problems when performing physiotherapy due to the deficit number of occupants.     
“The last recruitment of Physiotherapy graduates for service was in the year 2020,” said GPOA Vice President Dinusha Lakmal. He said that a gazette was reissued regarding recruiting graduates as physiotherapists in the year 2021. Due to the increase in the number of graduates who applied- which exceeded the availability in vacancies at that time- it was proposed to conduct this kind of recruitment test.
This test comprises general knowledge questions; regardless of the medical knowledge physiotherapy hopefuls carry. This leaves room for debate and raises critical questions regarding the treatments given by the physiotherapists recruited following these tests.
According to Lakmal the GPOA is responding on behalf of the objections made with regard to common sense questions and the challenge test related to recruiting graduates, making replacements and integration (internship) training. He said that due to the problematic situation of the investigation conducted, the association made its objections regarding the issue with the Minister of Health (MOH) and the relevant health authorities.
However, due to the lack of proper solutions, it hasn’t been possible to recruit a group of physiotherapy graduates in 2021. “Some units have been deactivated due to the shortage of physiotherapists”, said Lakmal. This recruitment procedure was revised in 2018. Lakmal complained that there has been no recruitment project executed since 2020. It was mentioned that the problem associated with the lack of physiotherapists worsening each day.
The GPOA presented solutions to overcome this situation which has cropped up due to the absence of recruiting graduates to be employed in service. 
What if graduates face Common Sense and Challenge test? 
According to Lakmal, a Common Sense and Challenge Test is conducted in selecting occupational therapy graduates to join the physical therapy service regardless of passing their professional qualification test. But it will be unfair on the part of the graduates possessing high professional skills as they may drop out of the race for recruitment. Graduates with low professional skills may get selected.
Moreover, he pointed out that this test causes injustice to the senior graduates due to the selection of graduates from multiple-year groups; who also go through the same test. Graduates from Peradeniya and Colombo state universities with a high Z-score  who have completed their degree are generalised with the low Z-score graduates from private universities including Kothalawa Defence University (KDU) because they will be also sitting for the same competitive examination. 
He added that the cabinet had approved establishing of degrees in physical therapy and paramedic services in the state universities in 2006. The proposed output was to utilise these university graduates to create quantitative and qualitative growth in health care. “However, these state university graduates have not been given priority in recruiting the graduates to the health service,” said a disappointed Lakmal.
“We cannot agree to the common sense and challenge test to be conducted for the professional graduates based on the mentioned reasons. As a result, we have submitted proposals to the MOH to resolve the issue,” underscored Lakmal.
A physiotherapist, or a physical therapist, works with patients to help them manage pain, balance and mobility. They work to develop different programmes for patients, in designing to restore as much as possible functional ability and movement. The Government Physiotherapy Officer’s Association (GPOA) underscores that there is a shortage of physiotherapists in necessary units. 
Proposals submitted 
to MOH
Lakmal stated that the selections for physical therapy graduates are conducted according to the priority list (MERIT LIST) prepared by the University Grants Commission, (UGC); which was the solution provided for this problem by the former Minister of Health.
However, due to the amendments to the recruitment process has delayed the next intake by 4-6 years.
GPOA officials request quick measures be taken to recruit new officers for the state health service, which is failing due to the shortage of officers.
Though the deficit highlighted in this column has ballooned, will the government listen to the voices of dissent and complaints by patients?