The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a directive prohibiting physiotherapists from using the ‘Dr.’ prefix, stating that they are not medical doctors and its use misleads patients.
In a letter dated September 9, DGHS head Dr. Sunita Sharma highlighted that using the ‘Dr.’ title violates the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and can create confusion, potentially leading to quackery. The letter was addressed to Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, National President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
“Physiotherapists are not trained to diagnose medical conditions and should treat only referred patients. Misuse of the ‘Dr.’ prefix could mislead the public and pose health risks,” Sharma wrote.
The letter referenced earlier legal pronouncements by courts, including the Patna and Madras High Courts, as well as orders from medical councils, which have consistently prohibited physiotherapists and occupational therapists from using the ‘Dr.’ title.
This directive comes months after the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) allowed physiotherapists to use ‘Dr.’ as a prefix and ‘PT’ as a suffix under the 2025 Physiotherapy Curriculum. However, the DGHS clarified that only registered practitioners of Modern Medicine, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, and Unani are legally permitted to use the title ‘Doctor.’
Sharma also noted that violations could invite action under Section 7 of the IMA Act for contravening Sections 6 and 6A. The DGHS instructed that the 2025 Competency-Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy be revised to remove the ‘Dr.’ prefix and encouraged the adoption of a respectful, non-misleading title for physiotherapy graduates and postgraduates.
The move aims to maintain clarity for patients while preserving professional respect for physiotherapists without creating ambiguity about their medical qualifications.
