Physiotherapists increasingly occupy strategic technical and leadership roles within Ministries of Health and health systems globally. These positions influence financing frameworks, workforce planning, service delivery design, and rehabilitation integration within universal health coverage (UHC). However, once physiotherapists transition into public service or policy-facing roles, structured engagement with professional associations often diminishes, resulting in reduced policy visibility, fragmented advocacy, and professional isolation.

Despite growing influence, no coordinated global mechanism exists to connect ministry-based physiotherapy leaders, align their work with WHO Rehabilitation 2030, or strengthen collective advocacy across governance levels.

This symposium proposes a system-level innovation: the development of a World Physiotherapy Leadership and Advocacy Platform to connect physiotherapists influencing health policy through MoHs and related leadership roles. Moving beyond association-led advocacy alone, the model embeds coordinated physiotherapy leadership directly within decision-making systems.

The session is grounded in health systems governance theory, policy network theory, and implementation science, recognising that sustained reform requires alignment across governance levels and institutional actors.

Case examples illustrate diverse governance contexts:

• Sierra Leone (low-income context) – Physiotherapy remains at a developmental stage, and the professional association is young; however, physiotherapists occupy strategic positions within the Ministry of Health and the military. Structured collaboration could significantly strengthen policy coherence and workforce planning.
• Benin (lower-middle-income context) – A rehabilitation department exists within the Ministry of Health, and collaboration with the association occurs, yet lacks formalised consultation platforms, limiting strategic alignment.
• Switzerland and Chile (high- and upper-middle-income contexts) – Federal and multi-layered governance structures require alignment across cantonal, national, and international levels, demonstrating how strategic networking enhances policy engagement.

Speakers will present a four-pillar framework:

• Global mapping and engagement of physiotherapists in policy-facing roles.
• Capacity building and peer learning focused on UHC, financing, and workforce planning.
• Coordinated joint advocacy aligned with global policy windows.
  Structured mentorship and dialogue between associations, Ministries of Health, and World Physiotherapy.
• Interactive polling and facilitated dialogue will allow participants to critically reflect on applicability within their own contexts.

By leveraging existing leadership rather than creating parallel structures, this model represents a scalable and cost-effective strategy to enhance physiotherapy’s institutional positioning, strengthen governance coherence, and advance equitable and resilient health systems globally.

1. World Health Organization. Rehabilitation 2030: A Call for Action (2017).
2. WHO. Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities (2022).
3. WHO. Health Workforce Policy and Management in the Context of UHC (2020).
4. World Physiotherapy. Policy Statement: Rehabilitation and UHC.
5. Stucki & Bickenbach (2017). Functioning as third health indicator.
6. Kruk et al. (2018). High-quality health systems.
7. Mills et al. (2008). Rigorous health systems research.