Physiotherapists Barred from Using ‘Dr.’ Title by DGHS; Matter Under Examination

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a directive prohibiting physiotherapists from using the prefix ‘Dr.’ The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s DGHS clarified that this title is exclusively for registered medical practitioners, and the issue is presently under review. A letter from the DGHS, signed by Dr. Sunita Sharma, was addressed to Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, President of IMA, reiterating that an official committee had confirmed the ruling against physiotherapists using ‘Dr.’ The letter emphasized that this restriction applies under all circumstances. The letter, dated September 9, also demanded the removal of the ‘Dr.’ prefix from the approved syllabus for physiotherapy. An alternative and appropriate title should be considered for physiotherapy graduates and postgraduates to avoid confusion among patients. The DGHS cited multiple appeals and disagreements from several organizations concerning the use of the ‘Dr.’ prefix and the suffix ‘PT’, including the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR). A legal opinion stated that a physiotherapist using the title ‘Doctor’ without a recognized medical qualification would violate the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916. This legal opinion was adopted by the Council in 2004, which reinforced the committee’s decision that physiotherapists are not authorized to use the ‘Dr.’ prefix.