The ‘Physiotherapy without borders – on the way to innovation’ program is the latest project of the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists, which was launched in 2024. The idea is to financially support the travels of physiotherapists to foreign centres in EU and EFTA member states to present innovative therapeutic, diagnostic and research approaches and promote physiotherapy internationally.
A physiotherapist applying for funding must meet formal criteria, including having a Polish right to practice, having paid membership fees, must not having any negative entries in the professional register. In addition, knowledge of a foreign language and professional and scientific activity is assessed, such as participation in conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals and experience in conducting scientific research. The project that the candidate intends to implement abroad should be innovative and with clearly defined goals.
A person interested in travelling under the program is obliged to apply with appropriate attachments (including a letter from the host centre) to the Chamber’s office. The application is verified and assessed, and then a decision is made to qualify or refuse to qualify the physiotherapist for the program. The length of the participant’s stay at the foreign centre for which funding is granted is from two to five consecutive days, and during the stay, the physiotherapist is obliged to conduct at least 8 hours of didactic, clinical or training classes.
All criteria for participation in the program and detailed financing rules are specified in the regulations of the ‘Physiotherapy without borders – on the way to innovation’ program, which is an annexe to the resolution of the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists 490/II KRF: https://kif.info.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/uchw.490.II_.KRF_.pdf.
