New Delhi: The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has directed physiotherapists to stop using the prefix “Dr” as they are not medical doctors under Indian law. The order states that using the title violates the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and misleads the public.
In a letter issued on September 9, DGHS official Dr. Sunita Sharma explained that physiotherapists are not trained to diagnose or provide primary care. They are expected to treat patients only on referral. Sharma warned that incorrect use of the title could lead to quackery and harm patients if conditions are mismanaged.
The directive cited earlier rulings of the Patna and Madras High Courts and decisions of medical councils that prohibited physiotherapists and occupational therapists from using the “Dr” title. It reaffirmed that the designation is legally reserved for registered practitioners of modern medicine, Ayurveda, Unani, and Homeopathy.
The letter also challenged a decision by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), which in April had allowed physiotherapists to use “Dr” as a prefix and “PT” as a suffix. The DGHS has now ordered the removal of this usage from the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy approved for 2025.
The department further advised that a distinct professional title should be considered for physiotherapy graduates and postgraduates to avoid confusion, while ensuring their contributions to healthcare are respected. Violations will invite legal action under Section 7 of the Indian Medical Degrees Act.
