Why You Should Become a Member
of the South African Society of Physiotherapy

The reason many of us join the SASP is for the security of the malpractice insurance at the reduced group premium rate. Insurance is important because the public is becoming better educated regarding health care, patient rights and litigation.

The SASP publishes the PhysioForum , the newsletter that informs us about courses and jobs available as well as news of our fellow physio's and generally what is happening in our world.

What else?

This new website provides you with all up-to-the-minute 'courses and classifieds' as well as the directory of members and much much more information.

The SASP and PhysioFocus have a busy well staffed Head Office and Provincial Offices providing members and the public with advice and information as well as being the administrative hub of the Society.

Membership also gives us access to the Special Interest Groups which often develops into our main contact with the Society. There are now seven of these, Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists Group (OMTG), NeuroRehab (NRG), Cardio-Pulmonary Respiratory Group (CPRG), Sports, Animal Health, Women's Health and Acupuncture with the possibility of Hydrotherapy becoming a formal group in the future. They provide us with colleagues who run continuing education courses and take responsibility for letting us know about new developments in the various fields of physiotherapy.

We organize a Congress every two years and publish the Journal four times a year. Both of these give the academics the opportunity to present their research, which is becoming increasingly necessary for job promotion.

Five years ago we established the Physiotherapy Research Foundation that assists with funding research projects (both for degree and non degree purposes). Together with the Orthopaedic Manipulative Research Incentive Fund (OMRIF) we have funded projects throughout the country. The PPK fund assists members with finance to attend courses and congresses internationally . The SASP is asked to recommend possible keynote speakers for the international physiotherapy congresses. This is another potential advantage for our lecturer member.

The Tariffs Committee negotiates the best possible rates for our services with the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), then runs workshops throughout the country to help us use them to our best advantage. They also have an advisory panel who provide immediate advice over the telephone. The Private Practitioners Group also publishes the 'Blue Book' a hugely informative booklet covering all aspects of private practice in South Africa, and the directory which is sent to all general practitioners containing the names and practice details of all category A members.

The SASP funds the student leaders annual get together to thrash out their particular issues, which then become our issues! We are finalizing the administrative details of a new student bursary that will be available soon.

Standards of Physiotherapy Practice (SOPP) - a standing committee - sorts out many of the minor ethical / poor practice issues often avoiding a members referral to the disciplinary committee of the Professional Board. They are also there to give advice regarding professional practice matters.

Every year the SASP (Communications division) using media consultants, coordinates the Physiotherapy Back Week focussing on increasing the public's exposure to the benefits of physiothrapy, through the media and physiotherapists themselves.

We have dealings with our international parent bodies , the World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT), the International Private Practitioners Association (IPPA) and the International Federation of Manipulative Therapists (IFOMT) whose international congress we are hosting in 2004

As the only association recognized by the Government as being representative of the profession of Physiotherapy, the SASP is negotiating with Department of Health regarding Community service and the development of the new two year assistants Diploma in Physiotherapy Technology. We are negotiating with the Professional Board of the Health Professions Council regarding continuing professional development (CPD). We also have discussions with amongst others, the Disabled Peoples Organization, the OT and Speech Therapy Associations and the Podiatrists, regarding issues of mutual benefit.

Being a member of the SASP also offers the possibility of developing personal negotiating, financial, secretarial and managerial skills... by getting involved. In these times of change, never underestimate how valuable new skills can be. You may have noticed how "we", "us" and "the SASP" have been used interchangeably. It's because "we" are the "SASP" and "they" are "us" .

Everything considered we are getting a good deal for our fees. We must also understand that a great deal of negotiating goes on before the fees are increased. The SASP has to weigh up the risk of losing members against the service we are able to offer members now and in the future. We have made it easier by organizing that you can pay over 10 months by debit order .

Physiotherapists do make a difference. Through the SASP help us make that difference bigger and better .

APPLY NOW