
Introduction
Physiotherapy is a dynamic healthcare profession recognized globally for its vital role in promoting, restoring, and maintaining optimal physical function and movement. Physiotherapists are autonomous professionals, licensed and regulated under the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC), and practice ethically and independently within their scope. Their clinical expertise spans a wide range of specialties including orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, geriatrics, cardiopulmonary, sports medicine, and women’s and men’s health. With a holistic approach to care, physiotherapists contribute significantly across the continuum of healthcare—from prevention and health promotion to acute care, rehabilitation, and palliative support.
At the national level, Bir Hospital, Nepal’s oldest and one of the most prominent tertiary hospitals under the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), hosts a dedicated Physiotherapy Unit. The unit operates at the intersection of clinical excellence, academic training, and research innovation. Aligned with NAMS’s broader mission to improve healthcare delivery, the physiotherapy unit plays a critical role in addressing Nepal's rising demand for comprehensive rehabilitation and physical medicine services.
The Physiotherapy Unit at Bir Hospital provides both outpatient and inpatient services, including coverage of ICUs, HDUs, and all general wards. It functions six days a week and offers direct consultation as well as referral-based management. The unit currently consists of multidisciplinary staff: from senior physiotherapists and physiotherapy inspectors to assistants and supportive personnel. These professionals manage cases ranging from musculoskeletal and neurological conditions to cardiorespiratory issues and post-operative rehabilitation.
Academically, the unit is active in shaping future physiotherapy professionals. It collaborates with Pokhara University’s School of Allied Health Sciences to offer structured internships, and it has submitted a postgraduate physiotherapy curriculum for approval to the Academic Council of NAMS. Alongside clinical training, interns participate in supervised ward rotations, case presentations, and skill development sessions.
In terms of research, the unit engages in evidence-based studies and practice innovations. Current research focuses include the need for higher physiotherapy education and the use of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging. Looking ahead, the unit plans to expand specialized clinical services, establish a dedicated inpatient rehabilitation facility, and initiate postgraduate physiotherapy education under NAMS.
Through its integrated approach to care, training, and research, the Physiotherapy Unit at Bir Hospital stands as a national leader in physiotherapy services and a model for advancing rehabilitation medicine in Nepal.
Services
OPD | |
Sunday to Friday | (50 per day) |
IPD
Referral Based
Daily round in ICU
(Average 15 per day)