The Bulletin of the World Health Organization has published a report about a collaborative project to improve physiotherapists' training in Vietnam.
In 2018 four Vietnamese medical universities, the Université Catholique de Louvain, the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Humanity & Inclusion, and World Physiotherapy, with support from Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and Taiwan Physical Therapy Association (TPTA), agreed to collaborate on strengthening pre-service education for physiotherapists in Vietnam.
Sidy Dieye, World Physiotherapy head of programmes and development, said: "The collaborative approach between the different stakeholders has set the path for the development of the physiotherapy profession in Vietnam.”
The project has resulted in the establishment of:
- a four-year, competency-based, entry-level curriculum for physiotherapists (bachelor’s degree)
- opportunities for continuing professional development
- two cohorts of master’s programme for physiotherapy lecturers and clinical supervisors
- a national physiotherapy association
- ongoing capacity development support from Taiwan Physical Therapy Association.
In addition, four students were supported in studying for PhD degrees. Strong collaboration and comprehensive and complementary interventions have laid the foundations for sustainable, high-quality, educational programmes for physiotherapists, which will improve access to, and the standard of, rehabilitation services in Vietnam, thereby leading to better patient outcomes.
View the report: International collaboration to improve physiotherapists’ training
