Asia Western Pacific region
Asia Western Pacific region has physiotherapy associations from 31 countries/territories
The Bhutan Society of Physiotherapy has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 2019 and is part of our Asia Western Pacific region.
2018
2019
2023
48
Primary contact
President
40
0.51
47%
In this country/territory
53%
In this region
63%
Globally
48
52%
In this MO
48%
In MOs in this region
58%
In MOs globally
Bachelors degree
There are no entry level education programmes in Bhutan
* = Continuing Professional Development
Physiotherapists must comply with: the professional code of conduct and ethics by the Bhutan Medical and Health Regulations 2005. www.bmhc.gov.bt; the Bhutan Civil Service Rules 2018 by Royal Civil Service Commission; Professional code of conduct and ethics by Bhutan Society of Physiotherapy, and National standards prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
Ministry of Health or another government department
The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
All programmes
Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners
Assess patients/clients
Make a diagnosis
Offer preventative advice/services
Refer to other specialists/services
Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)
Provide telehealth services
*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional
What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?
Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)
Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)
Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)
Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)
Other
The perception of the general public that they will require a prescription or advice from a medical doctor to access physiotherapy in itself is one major limitation of direct access. Another limitation is the prescription of specific physiotherapy interventions such as electrotherapy and manual therapies by certain group of physicians and surgeons that limit the scope of physiotherapy practice.
CPD credits approving authority.
Collaborating CPD partner
A global profile of the profession is also available.
300 (100-1000)
0.07 (<1)
60% (40-60%)
40% (20-40%)
Bachelors degree
0.49 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
25,470 (>10000)
16.03 (15-20)
60% (40-60%)
64% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
9.82 (5-10)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, More than one
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
935 (100-1000)
0.16 (<1)
42% (40-60%)
43% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.44 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
48 (<100)
0.51 (<1)
52% (40-60%)
48% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Public only
Yes
No
Yes
126 (100-1000)
0.24 (<1)
47% (40-60%)
45% (40-60%)
Diploma
0.89 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
78 (<100)
1.51 (1-5)
68% (60-80%)
71% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
5.38 (5-10)
No
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Private only
No
Yes
Yes
1,564 (1000-10000)
6.11 (5-10)
56% (40-60%)
58% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
3.4 (1-5)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
Yes
No
Yes
15,183 (>10000)
0.6 (<1)
69% (60-80%)
68% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.03 (1-5)
Yes
Not defined
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
No
No
Yes
5,673 (1000-10000)
0.59 (<1)
63% (60-80%)
67% (60-80%)
Diploma
1.32 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
110,188 (>10000)
14.91 (10-15)
36% (20-40%)
36% (20-40%)
Diploma
11.11 (10-15)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
Yes
No
No
22,631 (>10000)
9.08 (5-10)
60% (60-80%)
60% (60-80%)
Diploma
8.14 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
No
No
No
No
No
588 (100-1000)
3.98 (1-5)
62% (60-80%)
59% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
1.17 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
No
No
No
No
Yes
169 (100-1000)
3.41 (1-5)
59% (40-60%)
42% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Private only
Yes
No
Yes
1,720 (1000-10000)
0.88 (<1)
66% (60-80%)
73% (60-80%)
Diploma
5.89 (5-10)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
Yes
No
No
253 (100-1000)
0.74 (<1)
92% (>80%)
92% (>80%)
Bachelors degree
4.41 (1-5)
Yes
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Private only
No
Yes
No
104 (100-1000)
0.09 (<1)
75% (60-80%)
75% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
0.74 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
Yes
No
Yes
570 (100-1000)
0.75 (<1)
47% (40-60%)
47% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.98 (<1)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
4,340 (1000-10000)
12.4 (10-15)
73% (60-80%)
76% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
2.93 (1-5)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
100 (<100)
1.09 (1-5)
58% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
2.19 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, More than one
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
1,645 (1000-10000)
0.09 (<1)
71% (60-80%)
56% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.02 (<1)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
213 (100-1000)
0.21 (<1)
51% (40-60%)
51% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.49 (<1)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
5,586 (1000-10000)
1.44 (1-5)
65% (60-80%)
65% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
3.37 (1-5)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
150 (100-1000)
1.92 (1-5)
17% (<20%)
49% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
3.02 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Private only
No
No
Yes
439 (100-1000)
4.32 (1-5)
70% (60-80%)
69% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.77 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
456 (100-1000)
0.31 (<1)
54% (40-60%)
38% (20-40%)
Bachelors degree
0.9 (<1)
No
Not defined
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
1,282 (1000-10000)
3.63 (1-5)
60% (40-60%)
59% (40-60%)
Diploma
3.15 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
2,110 (1000-10000)
1.89 (1-5)
66% (60-80%)
67% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.19 (1-5)
Yes
Physical Therapy Council (Other)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
308 (100-1000)
3.78 (1-5)
71% (60-80%)
64% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.59 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Private only
Yes
No
Yes
675 (100-1000)
0.25 (<1)
84% (>80%)
60% (40-60%)
Diploma
1.07 (1-5)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
No
Private only
No
No
No
175 (100-1000)
0.16 (<1)
43% (40-60%)
43% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.74 (<1)
Yes
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
No
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Asia Western Pacific region has physiotherapy associations from 31 countries/territories