Inspired by USAID’s strong support to Vietnamese physical therapists through various training and networking activities over the last two years, a group of Vietnamese physical therapists established the Vietnam Physical Therapy Association (VPTA) last month. The association has received strong support from the Ministry of Health and tens of thousands of physical therapists have joined throughout the country. This significant milestone marked an important step for the physical therapy sector in Vietnam as the country is now eligible to become a member of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy, increasing opportunities for standardizing and improving training curriculum as well as advancing the quality of physical therapy services.

So What? A USAID-supported assessment found that the current physical therapy education curriculum in Vietnam is about 20 years out-of-date. The formation of the VPTA will address this gap by developing a rehabilitation system, ensuring sustainable development of the sector, and improving quality of physical therapy services for persons with disabilities.