About WCPT

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) is a non-profit organisation supported by subscriptions from its 92 Member Organisations. Following the 2007 General Meeting, it is expected there will be 99 Member Organisations. The confederation represents over a quarter of a million physical therapists worldwide.

WCPT is a confederation of national physical therapy associations. Individuals are linked to WCPT through their national associations. Currently, only one national organisation per country may be eligible for membership. Each national organisation representing physical therapists must meet set criteria before being admitted to WCPT as a member.

Objectives
WCPT aims to improve global health by:
• Representing the profession of physical therapy internationally;
• Collaborating with international and national organisations;
• Encouraging high standards of physical therapy research, education and practice;
• Supporting communication and exchange of information among Regions and Member Organisations of WCPT.

Principles and Statements
WCPT publishes Declarations of Principle which record the Confederation’s agreed stance on issues affecting the practice of physical therapy internationally. It also publishes Position Statements, reflecting the Confederation’s opinion on issues affecting the practice of physical therapy.

Activity
WCPT undertakes a range of programmes and projects, as well as supporting international campaigns.

Publications
WCPT publishes a wide range of publications to inform, represent and support the profession internationally. These include WCPT News, a Quadrennial Review, and Keynotes – a series of papers dealing with professional, practice and policy issues relevant to physical therapists worldwide. These are available free from the WCPT website, www.wcpt.org or from the WCPT Secretariat for a charge.

Past WCPT Presidents

WCPT History
WCPT was founded in 1951 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with 11 founding Member Organisations – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, France, Sweden and the United States.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the UK provided a base for the confederation for its first decade. By 1961, membership had increased to 16, separate office accommodation had been obtained, a Secretary General employed, and a formal system of subscription from Member Organisations established.

Soon afterwards, WCPT consolidated its international position by attaining consultative status with the United Nations and official relationship with the World Health Organisation. In 1991, it established a structure of five Regions, each having an autonomous regional committee.

Early in the new millennium, WCPT celebrated its 50th anniversary, making the subject of evidence based practice one of its priorities as the profession continued its growth in standing and numbers into the new century.

WCPT Congress
The pattern of holding a WCPT Congress every three to four years was established early in the life of the organisation. Congresses have been held in London, New York, Paris, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Montreal, Tel Aviv, Stockholm, Sydney, London, Washington, Yokohama, Barcelona, Vancouver.

WCPT Members
WCPT is constituted of Member Organisations representing physical therapy in the following countries. The number of physical therapists represented by each organisation in 2005 is indicated. Where organisations have not reported numbers in 2005, the most recently reported numbers are given, and the year indicated in brackets. Provisional members of WCPT are marked as (prov).

Argentina 120 (2003)
Australia 8278
Austria 3705
Bahamas (prov)
Bahrain (prov)
Bangladesh (prov)
Barbados 20
Belgium 2913
Bermuda 15
Bolivia 80
Botswana 20
Brazil 600 (2003)
Bulgaria 290
Cameroon 26 (2003)
Canada 9207
Chile 705
Colombia 707
Costa Rica 72
Croatia 915
Curacao 53
Cyprus 275
Czech Republic 1758
Denmark 7286
Ecuador 120
Egypt 650
Estonia 196
Ethiopia 19
Fiji 20
Finland 6526
France 4000
Germany 29929
Ghana 26
Greece 777
Guatemala 50
Hong Kong 1014
Hungary 2010
Iceland 406
India 10602
Indonesia 492
Iran 1003
Ireland 2016
Israel 700 (2003)
Italy 4120
Jamaica 20
Japan 31809
Jordan 50
Kenya 390
Korea 2800
Kuwait 160
Latvia 175
Lebanon 603
Liechtenstein 42
Lithuania 350
Luxembourg 240
Malawi 25
Malaysia 300
Malta 66
Mexico 250
Namibia 47
Nepal 31
Netherlands 14245
New Zealand 2099
Nigeria 400
Norway 6700
Panama 65
Peru 80
Philippines 549
Poland 289
Portugal 1068
Puerto Rico 154
Romania 250
Saudi Arabia 300
Serbia 750
Singapore 330
Slovenia 1003
South Africa 2522
Spain 6223
Sri Lanka 150
Suriname 15
Swaziland 13
Sweden 9656
Switzerland 6600
Syria 155
Taiwan 737
Tanzania 60
Thailand 900
Trinidad & Tobago 34
Turkey 478
Uganda 48
United Arab Emirates (Prov)
United Kingdom 33500
United States of America 48587
Uruguay 184
Venezuela 190
Zambia 60
Zimbabwe 36