The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has clarified that the prefix ‘Dr.’ is exclusively for registered medical practitioners, and physiotherapists are not authorized to use it. This directive comes from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the DGHS is currently reviewing the matter. A letter from Dr. Sunita Sharma of DGHS, addressed to Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, the IMA National President, confirmed that an official committee had reiterated the restriction on physiotherapists using the ‘Dr.’ prefix. The committee determined that physiotherapists are not permitted to use the title under any circumstances. The DGHS also issued a directive in a letter dated September 9, requiring the removal of the ‘Dr.’ prefix from the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy – Approved Syllabus 2025. The letter suggested considering a more appropriate title for physiotherapy graduates and postgraduates to prevent confusion among the public. The DGHS received numerous appeals and disagreements from organizations regarding the use of the ‘Dr.’ prefix and ‘PT’ suffix. This included the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR). A legal opinion concluded that using the title ‘Doctor’ without a medical qualification would violate the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916. This legal opinion was adopted in 2004, which led the committee to reiterate that physiotherapists should not use the prefix ‘Dr’.
