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The Order of Physiotherapists in Lebanon (OPTL)

Dekwaneh, ZONE 1
55th street, Bldg 41, 5th floor
Post Box: 90626
Beirut
LEBANON
  Tel.: +961 1 488068
+961 3 334240
Fax: +961 1 488067
email: optlacpt@terra.net.lb
optlacpt@inco.com.lb
Web: www.optl.org
Last update: 16.12.2010
LEBANON Download this document (PDF) for printout



Contact person
  Chief Executive Officer   Georges Boueiri

Our office hours
  DURING THE WEEK  
mon. 08.30 am - 04.00 pm
tue. 08.30 am - 04.00 pm
wed. 08.30 am - 04.00 pm
thu. 08.30 am - 04.00 pm
fri. 08.30 am - 04.00 pm

Country information
 LEBANON 
Population:3.700.000
Number of Physiotherapists 
- in the association: 1.300 in the Order (not all active)
- in the country: Any Physiotherapist has to be member in the Order to practice the profession.

Headquarters
  DETAILS   The Order of Physiotherapists in Lebanon (OPTL) has five staff employees and a part time employed managing director. The Order holds regular executive meetings every two weeks and furthers liaisons with other health care professions and authorities. The Order of Physiotherapists in Lebanon (OPTL) has not specified whether it is member of a trade union.

Migration Information
  LINK TO DETAILED INFORMATION FOR MIGRATORS   Because Lebanon is not a member of the European Union the European Region of the WCPT does not keep information on the migration procedures for this country.

Please contact the Lebanese Order for further information.

Physiotherapy Education
  INFORMATION AND NUMBERS   The Physiotherapists in Lebanon have their own education department. Education is held at 7 different universities officially recognized graduating about 40 students per year. Studies take 4 academic years (4.200 hrs) and result in an academic degree/diploma. Studies allow for postgraduate courses.

Physiotherapists are involved in both teaching and research. The OPTL works in a framework for establishing a formal system of specialisation according to the new document of WCPT concerning the specialization.


Status of profession
  TITLE AND REGULATIONS ON THE PROFESSION   Professional Title/ Qualification:

Physiotherapist or Physiothérapeute (in French)

The title and the professional activity is protected by the state. The rules of professional conduct are determined directly by the state through national legislation. The physiotherapist must be state registered and obtain a license to practice. Lebanon has established a code of ethics for physiotherapists.
The national authority responsible for the physiotherapy profession in Lebanon is "The Order of Physiotherapists in Lebanon (OPTL)" and the "Ministry of Health". The disciplinary council of the OPTL controls allays blame and makes liable any physiotherapist an act of professional misconduct. The OPTL has not specified whether there are sufficient employment opportunities for physiotherapists in the country.

Practice of physiotherapy
  INSURANCE AND PRACTICE REGULATIONS   The physiotherapy services in Lebanon are determined by the profession. The physiotherapist determines the clinical intervention of physiotherapy him/herself. Lebanon offers both public and private physiotherapy services. The insurance cover for physiotherapy is paid both through the national health care system and privately the patient.

CPD: The OPTL inagurated in 2004 under the patronage of the WCPT President, Dr. Sandra Mercer Moore, its own CPD center: INP (National Insitute of Physiotherapy)

Reserach: To encurage the research activities on Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Lebanon, the OPTL inagurated in 2010 its own research center: CNRP (National Research Center in Physiotherapy)

Twinning
  The OPTL plan to establish a twinning program with the French federation: La Fédération Française des Masseurs-Kinesithérapeutes Rééducateurs (FFMKR).