Physiotherapy Workforce Dynamics in Kuwait (2011–2024): Trends, Gender Shifts, and Strategic Planning Implications

Background: A wellplanned health workforce is essential for achieving highquality, equitable rehabilitation services. In Kuwait, physiotherapy services have expanded over the past decade, yet little is known about longterm workforce trends, gender and nationality imbalances, or the impact of the COVID19 pandemic. This study provides the first comprehensive 14year analysis of physiotherapy workforce dynamics and service utilisation within Kuwait’s Ministry of Health. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using Ministry of Health annual physiotherapy workforce and serviceutilisation reports (2011–2024). Data included workforce size, gender, nationality, rank, educational qualifications, and physiotherapy service activity across specialized and general hospitals. Descriptive statistics, linear regression, and interrupted timeseries (ITS) analyses were used to examine longterm trends and COVID19–related changes. and physiotherapy service activity. Results: The physiotherapy workforce increased from 567 in 2011 to 1,078 in 2024, a rise of 90%. Growth was driven mainly by Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti females, resulting in a strongly feminised workforce by 2024. In contrast, Kuwaiti male physiotherapists declined by 28.8%. Workforce density increased modestly from 1.85 to 2.19 physiotherapists per 10,000 population, remaining below international benchmarks. Educational qualifications improved, with PhD-trained physiotherapists increasing from 2 to 23. Interrupted time-series analysis showed a significant pandemic-related decline in service utilisation, particularly in Kuwaiti outpatient activity. Significant post-pandemic recovery was observed in selected service streams. Conclusion: Kuwait’s physiotherapy workforce expanded substantially, but workforce density remained below global benchmarks and gender and nationality imbalances persisted. Future planning should strengthen national recruitment, equitable workforce distribution, and digital and tele-physiotherapy models.