Your experience about your people's knowledge of physio is not unusual.Even in the very developed society people still need to be educated on what physio is all about.They tend to believe that we are all doctors or nurses.
Be ready to change the status quo.Always insist that doctors refer patient appropriately not verbally.and discourage referrals that dictate to u what to do.Patients must be informed that physio is not extension of Drs prescription but experts/clinician that are required to fix their problems.
Your physio body must not relent in educating the masses about physio and what it can offer.Be ready to pay the prize for the next generation of physios.
By the way,i guess u posted from Pakistan.am i right? Yelufem.