India’s Need for Accessible Rehabilitation

When Sidhartha Bandha’s father had a stroke at 63, the hospital saved his life. But when he returned home, another challenge began. He couldn’t perform daily tasks and needed rehabilitation, but the nearest physiotherapy was too far. For a family depending on daily earnings, traveling for treatment meant lost workdays and difficulty moving their partially paralyzed father.

Eventually, they stopped regular therapy. Over time, his father developed contractures, making simple movements difficult. Sidhartha recalls his father’s active past, working in fields and helping with chores. While alive, he couldn’t live the life he once knew.

Rehabilitation isn’t just about recovery—it’s about rebuilding a meaningful life after hospital discharge. In India, while emergency care has improved, post-hospital care like physiotherapy is neglected. Conditions like stroke, heart disease, and orthopedic injuries require such support to help patients regain mobility and independence.

India has only 0.36 physiotherapists per 10,000 people, far fewer than in Europe. The issue isn’t just the number but their accessibility—most are in cities, leaving rural areas underserved. Patients often can’t afford travel for therapy.

Solutions exist: community-based learning programs place students in rural areas to understand patient barriers. Teaching families simple exercises and using tele-rehabilitation can bridge gaps. Additionally, creating opportunities for physiotherapists to work in villages and smaller towns is crucial.

Rehabilitation should be seen as essential care, not an optional add-on. No one should lose mobility due to lack of nearby or affordable therapy.

(Shakeeb Ahmed Khan is a physiotherapist; Christianez Ratna Kiruba is a health journalist.)