Five physiotherapy associations from German-speaking countries/territories are calling for sweeping reforms to strengthen patient care across Europe, with a particular focus on education, quality standards, and advanced physiotherapy practice (APP).
World Physiotherapy member organisations Physio Austria/Austrian Physiotherapy Association, Deutscher Verband fuer Physiotherapie/German Association for Physiotherapy, Physiotherapeuten Verband Fürstentum Liechtenstein/Physiotherapists' Association of the Principality of Liechtenstein, and Association Luxembourgeoise des Kinésithérapeutes/Luxembourg Association of Physiotherapists, and Physioswiss met recently in Bern, Switzerland, to address persistent differences in training, remuneration, and care responsibilities between their countries/territories.
At the meeting, representatives of the five associations agreed on three core priorities:
- Full academisation of physiotherapy, making a bachelor’s degree the minimum qualification, with clear pathways to master’s and PhD programmes
- Harmonised quality standards, including mandatory registration and regular re-registration
- Recognition of specialisation and advanced physiotherapy practice, with appropriate remuneration for higher qualifications
While advanced practitioners are typically specialists, the associations note that not all specialists would necessarily qualify as advanced practitioners. The term APP has no exact German equivalent, so specialisation and advanced physiotherapy practice are being used in parallel.
APP is defined as clinical practice where physiotherapists make complex treatment decisions and manage unpredictable risks using systematic clinical reasoning. International evidence shows APP reduces healthcare costs, eases the burden on doctors, shortens waiting times, and fosters interprofessional collaboration.
The associations stress that aligning education and quality measures across Europe will improve professional mobility and ensure patients receive consistent, evidence-based care regardless of borders.
In a joint statement, representatives of the five associations said: “We must harmonise training, quality assurance, and recognition of advanced practice. This will benefit patients and strengthen the role of physiotherapy in modern healthcare systems.”
If adopted, these proposals would mark a significant step towards elevating physiotherapy’s role as an independent science and ensuring that advanced clinical expertise is both recognised and rewarded across the German-speaking world and beyond.
