Expressing the need of Government Physiotherapy College in every district, Speaker U.T. Khader said only a person who needs physiotherapy understands the importance of physiotherapists.

Speaking at the valedictory of the two-day Mangalore Physiocon physiotherapy conference on Saturday, , Mr. Khader recalled his days as the Health Minister and said it was during his term that permission was given to start the government College of Physiotherapy in the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics, which offers BPT and MPT courses, in 2016. This college now was the best physiotherapy college in the state. He said he brought in changes in cadre and recruitment rules for appointing those with BPT degrees in government healthcare centres.

Mr. Khader said two decades ago there was only one physiotherapist in Mangaluru. Now there were good number of physiotherapists in the city and everyone has access to their services.

Calling upon physiotherapists to focus on research, Mr. Khader said BPT graduates should go for specialisation.

Orthopedic surgeon and Pro-chancellor of Nitte University, Shantharam Shetty, said physiotherapist is a part of the team of orthopedician involved in providing efficient care to patients. Physiotherapists play an important role in patient cure. Physiotherapists works with patients to make them strong, agile and help patient get back to the field of work. There were 700 colleges in the country, including 115 in Karnataka, teaching physiotherapy, Dr. Shetty said.