PARAS Health, IAP join hands to strengthen rehabilitation care in J&K
Srinagar: Physiotherapists play a vital role in helping patients regain movement, strength and independence after surgery, doctors and healthcare experts said as PARAS Health Srinagar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) to strengthen rehabilitation care in Jammu and Kashmir.
The collaboration seeks to promote professional cooperation, knowledge exchange and greater integration of physiotherapy into comprehensive patient care.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Murtuza Habib, Facility Director, PARAS Health Srinagar, said physiotherapy has become an essential part of the recovery journey, particularly after major surgeries.
“Recovery does not end in the operating theatre. Physiotherapists play a critical role in helping patients regain mobility, strength and confidence after surgery and in preventing complications during recovery,” he said.
Dr Habib said physiotherapists increasingly work alongside surgeons and physicians across specialties including orthopaedics, neurosurgery, critical care and sports injuries, helping patients transition safely from treatment to rehabilitation and back to everyday life.
Seema Vig, Senior Vice President & Regional Director, PARAS Health, said the collaboration reinforces the hospital’s focus on accessible and comprehensive healthcare.
“Rehabilitation and recovery must be an integral part of patient-centred healthcare. Collaborations such as this strengthen our commitment to bringing quality, specialised care closer to communities across Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
Dr Masarat Shafi, PT, IAP CEC North Zone and Council Member, State Allied Health Council, J&K, described the MoU as an important step towards strengthening physiotherapy and rehabilitation services in the region.
He said the collaboration would create greater opportunities for professional development, knowledge sharing and improved rehabilitation practices.
The partnership comes as physiotherapy assumes a growing role across the continuum of care—from helping patients walk and regain function after orthopaedic procedures to supporting neurological recovery and rebuilding strength following critical illness.
The MoU is aimed at strengthening professional linkages and advancing rehabilitation as an essential part of recovery, rather than simply a post-treatment service.