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Member organisation

Panamanian Association of Physiotherapy and/or Kinesiology

Asociacion Panamena de Fisioterapia y/o KinesiologiaPanamaNorth America Caribbean
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Asociacion Panamena de Fisioterapia y/o Kinesiologia/Panamanian Association of Physiotherapy and/or Kinesiology has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 1991 and is part of our North America Caribbean region.

Year established

1982

World Physiotherapy member since

1991

Year members reported

2024

Number of physiotherapist members

124

Contact details

Key contacts

Panama: a profile of the profession in 2024

mo-pdf-iconDownload profilemo-pdf-iconData disclaimerData correct as at 30 June 2024

Professional titles protected by law

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Licenciatura en Fisioterapia y/o Kinesiología

About Panamanian Association of Physiotherapy and/or Kinesiology and the physiotherapy profession in Panama

Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory

2,000

4.48

Per 10,000 population

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% female

90%

In this country/territory

Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)

124

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% female

80%

In this MO

Physiotherapy professional entry level education

Minimum qualification required to practice

Bachelors degree

Equivalent fulltime years

4

Number of programmes

13

Entry level physiotherapy education programmes

Please contact the Panamanian Association of Physiotherapy and/or Kinesiology for details of entry level education programmes in Panama

Regulation

* = Continuing Professional Development

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Registration required to practice

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CPD* required for re-registration

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CPD* required for membership

What is required to practice in the country/territory?

The technical health council is in charge of all regulations and requirements to practice as a physiotherapist. The council maintains a database of licensed physiotherapists. https://idoneidad.minsa.gob.pa/assets/pdf/REQUISITOS-PROFESIONALES-AFINES.pdf

Practice

Which authority defines scope of practice

Ministry of Health or another government department

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Standards of practice

The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

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Education for autonomous practice

All programmes

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Legislation supports private practice

Physiotherapists are permitted to

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    Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners

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    Assess patients/clients

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    Make a diagnosis

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    Offer preventative advice/services

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    Refer to other specialists/services

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    Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)

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    Provide telehealth services

Direct access

*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional

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Direct access* permitted?

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Will this be reimbursed?

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in the public system?

Limitations

What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?

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    Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)

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    Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)

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    Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)

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    Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)

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    Other

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events

https://www.facebook.com/apafik-107332363986179/

Brisas del Golf, calle 39 occidente

Profile of the profession in this region

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Bahamas

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

32 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.79 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

84% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

74% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Barbados

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

65 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.52 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

86% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

83% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Bermuda

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

32 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

9.61 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

88% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

85% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Canada

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

11,601 (>10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.27 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

69% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

70% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.87 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Guyana

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

72 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.04 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

83% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

76% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

6.14 (5-10)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Haiti

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

6 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.03 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

100% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.28 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

No

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Not defined

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, Some programmes (Some)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Jamaica

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

97 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.02 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.77 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Panama

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

124 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

4.48 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

90% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

14.55 (10-15)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Puerto Rico

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

150 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.94 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

19% (<20%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

80% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

3.12 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

St Lucia

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

10 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.72 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

90% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

77% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Suriname

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

40 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.35 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

75% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

83% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

8.02 (5-10)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Trinidad and Tobago

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

54 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.68 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

70% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

68% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, More than one

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

United States

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

65,704 (>10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.19 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

56% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Professional doctorate

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

4.57 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

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