[PLEASE  ALSO INCLUDE YOUR MRTB NUMBER TO THE SPACE REQUIRED FOR YOUR NAME]

The Concerned Physiotherapists 

28 May 2026

 

The Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, 

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, 

Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, 

Shehu Shagari Way, 

Central Business District, 

FCT, Abuja.

 

Attn:

-Honorable Minister for    State, Ministry of health 

 -Registrar, MRTB 

 -President, NSP

 

Urgent Concerns on the Negative Impacts of Diploma in Medical Rehabilitation Programme (including Physiotherapy) on Physiotherapy Profession in Nigeria and the Quality of Care for the Nigeria Populace

 

We, the undersigned Physiotherapists (including clinicians, educators, administrators, public health specialists, students and other stakeholders) in Nigeria and the diaspora, write to strongly express our concerns and displeasures about the current approval of academic Diploma Programme in Medical Rehabilitation Therapy and accreditation of institutions for the programme by the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTBN).

 

The programme, designated by different institutions as Community Rehabilitation Officer Programme or Physiotherapy Technician Programme or Physiotherapy Technology Programme, is meant to include training in Physiotherapy or inclusion of Physiotherapy skills at sub-Baccalaureate (Diploma) level.

 

It should be noted that the introduction and formal accreditation of Diploma level training in whatever name or disguise in this field poses serious threats not only to the integrity and future of the Physiotherapy profession in Nigeria but also to the effective delivery of quality Physiotherapy care to the Nigeria populace in accordance with the international best practices.

 

Core Concerns

 

Demeaning the Quality of Training and Professional Status of Physiotherapy 

Physiotherapy is a highly specialized, scientific, evidence-based profession that requires rigorous University-level education and clinical trainings. This is evident in the upgrading of Physiotherapy Programme in Nigeria from a 5 years Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) to 6 years Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) Degree programme after which the graduates proceed on a 1-year compulsory Clinical Internship Programme under Licenced Physiotherapists at accredited health institutions before being given Professional Licence to practice. The Physiotherapists thereafter proceed on mandatory NYSC programme.

 

In addition, the management of patients at all levels of care by Physiotherapists requires high-level of clinical reasoning which cannot be provided for at the Diploma training level without jeopardy to the quality of care.

 

The introduction of Diploma programme will also create a parallel, lower-tier qualification that undermines the professional identity of Physiotherapists and diminishes public perception of the noble field especially in clinical practice.

 

Promotion of Quackery and Substandard Practice 

A Diploma programme will provide a shorter and less comprehensive training pathways, thereby opening the door to inadequately trained who may turn self-acclaimed Physiotherapy/Medical Rehabilitation practitioners. This will inevitably lead to an increase in quackery, unsafe practices, and mismanagement of patients, putting the health of Nigerians at risk. Quackery still remains a cancerous bane of quality healthcare services in Nigeria.

 

Confusion among the Public and Healthcare System 

The co-existence of Diploma holders and fully qualified Physiotherapists will create ambiguity regarding roles, competencies, and standards of care. Patients may be unable to distinguish between levels of expertise, leading to reduced trust in the profession as a whole.

 

Erosion of Established International Best Practices in Physiotherapy Education 

Over the years, significant progress has been made to elevate Physiotherapy education in Nigeria to internationally recognized standards. The latest upgrade of Physiotherapy Programme in Nigeria was done by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in the year 2018 from a 5 years Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) to 6 years Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) Degree programme. The graduates undergo 1-year compulsory Clinical Internship Programme under Licenced Physiotherapists at accredited health institutions before being given Professional Licence to practice, and thereafter proceed on mandatory NYSC programme. Physiotherapists also engage in postgraduate trainings (both clinical and academic) to become specialists in a field of Physiotherapy, in addition to the regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes required for licence renewal and knowledge update.

 

The introduction of Diploma programme represents a regression that could isolate the country from global best practices and professional benchmarks. It should be noted that Nigeria sets the pace and holds the ace in Physiotherapy education and training in Africa, and at par with countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. A reason Nigeria-trained Physiotherapists are ‘hot cakes’ in those countries, promoting the Nigeria culture of excellence and improving Nigeria economy through foreign exchange.

 

Long-term Damage to the Profession’s Growth 

Rather than strengthening the workforce, this approach risks flooding the system with underqualified personnel, thereby devaluing the profession, reducing opportunities for fully trained Physiotherapists, and discouraging investment in higher education and specialization.

 

Our Positions 

We firmly believe that the future of Physiotherapy services and the resultant impacts on the populace in Nigeria depends on maintaining high educational and professional standards. Expanding access to training must not come at the expense of quality, safety, and professional dignity.

 

The Nigeria populace deserves the best Physiotherapy services at every level of care, be it rural, urban, primary healthcare, tertiary, etc. Production of Diploma holders with limited knowledge to serve at a level of care e.g. rural, primary healthcare, etc while well-trained Physiotherapists serve at some other levels is a form discrimination against, stigmatisation of and disservice to the Nigeria populace at such levels, this should not be encouraged. The other climes like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etc are attracting the best trained Physiotherapists from Nigeria and other countries, Physiotherapists trained at Degree but not Diploma level to work at all levels of care including the homes/communities and rural areas. Nigeria government should not leave her populace in the hands of sub-professional while other climes attracted our main professionals. Nigeria economy may also drop in foreign exchange opportunity in Physiotherapy as the advanced climes will only source for Degree, not Diploma holders in Physiotherapy. This may further lead to loss of dignity in Physiotherapy training and practice in Nigeria and reduced ranking internationally.

 

A well-trained Physiotherapy at Degree level will help in disease surveillance, triaging and screening, while also providing adequate evidence-based Physiotherapy care and ensuring prompt, appropriate referral.

 

Our Demands

Immediate stoppage of Diploma Programme in Physiotherapy under any name or disguise.

Further supports for Degree-based entry-level qualifications as the minimum standard for Physiotherapy practice as approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC)

Immediate engagements with the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy and other stakeholders to develop and implement policies that strengthen quality Physiotherapy services at all levels of healthcare.

Immediate employment of Physiotherapists to serve at all levels of care. A leave can be borrowed from Oyo State Government who just employed Physiotherapists to serve at its Primary Health care (PHC) centres.

Utilisation of Physiotherapists on NYSC Programme to serve and support Physiotherapy service delivery at all levels of healthcare.

 

Conclusion 

The Physiotherapy profession is vital to healthcare delivery, patient recovery, and quality of life. Any policy that lowers its standards or opens the door to quackery is a direct threat to both the profession and the public safety. We urge the federal Ministry of Health and all relevant authorities to act decisively in the best interest of the Nigeria people.