The 5th Commission for Health and Civil Protection of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, chaired by Joana Silva (PSD), is continuing its review of the regional ordinance governing the prescription of physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatments.
The proposed changes would limit the prescription of certain Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation treatments to specialists in the field (physiatrists) and, in specific cases, pediatricians. The Order of Physiotherapists opposed this, arguing it fails to recognize the professional competencies of university-trained physiotherapists and undervalues the profession.
Conversely, the Madeira Regional Council of the Order of Doctors expressed support for the changes, citing a significant rise in expenditure without corresponding improvements in patient outcomes and asserting that prescription is a medical act.
