The phenomenon of unlicensed individuals posing as physiotherapists has taken on deeply alarming proportions, according to the Panhellenic Association of Physiotherapists (PAP), which is sounding the alarm over the widespread deception of citizens and the provision of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services without the required legal credentials.
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PAP President Petros Lymperidis is calling today, through parapolitika.gr, for the immediate intervention of the competent authorities, stressing that the issue is fundamentally one of public health protection. “The PAP has repeatedly highlighted to the relevant state and regulatory authorities that the phenomena of impersonating the profession of physiotherapist, misleading citizens, and illegally providing physiotherapy and rehabilitation services have reached particularly alarming proportions,” Petros Lymperidis told parapolitika.gr. Of particular concern, he emphasizes, is the operation of establishments that advertise physiotherapy, rehabilitation, or “alternative therapy” services, delivered by individuals who identify themselves as practitioners of specialties not recognized as healthcare professions under Greek law. “In most cases, these activities are carried out without the required professional qualifications, without the legally mandated license to practice, and without the necessary licensing of the premises where these services are provided — creating serious issues of legality, safety, and public health protection,” Petros Lymperidis underlines. The PAP is therefore calling for systematic inspections, thorough investigation of related complaints, and the imposition of the prescribed administrative and criminal sanctions wherever violations are identified.
Business activity codes and the tax authority in the spotlight
Furthermore, the PAP President is drawing attention to a long-standing unresolved issue regarding the integration of the tax registry with the professional registers of healthcare practitioners, with the aim of curbing the unregulated issuance of Business Activity Codes (BAC). As Petros Lymperidis explains, the Association raised this matter at the plenary session of the Central Health Council (KESY), which was followed by correspondence between the Ministry of Health and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) regarding the feasibility of this integration. Despite a positive initial reception of the proposal, its implementation remains pending, as the IAPR cited technical difficulties. “The request to link the membership registries of healthcare professional public law entities with the IAPR — in order to curb the unregulated issuance of business activity codes — remains as relevant as ever and is the only way to protect public health,” Petros Lymperidis concludes, calling for “the implementation of this measure, which the PAP considers critical for ensuring legal compliance and citizen safety.”
