Health Ministry’s DGHS: ‘Dr.’ Title Restricted to Medical Professionals; Physiotherapists Affected

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a directive restricting the use of the ‘Dr.’ prefix to registered medical practitioners only. Physiotherapists are explicitly excluded from using this title. The DGHS is currently reviewing this matter. A letter from the DGHS, authored by Dr. Sunita Sharma, addressed to Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, the IMA National President, communicated that an official committee had reaffirmed the directive barring physiotherapists from using the ‘Dr.’ prefix. The committee’s stance is that physiotherapists are not entitled to use this title, under any circumstances. The DGHS’s September 9th letter also mandated that the ‘Dr.’ prefix be removed from the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy – Approved Syllabus 2025. The letter further suggested the adoption of a more suitable and respectful title for physiotherapy graduates and postgraduates, ensuring clarity for the public and patients. The DGHS noted several appeals and disagreements from various organizations, including the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), regarding the use of ‘Dr.’ and ‘PT’ suffixes. The General Body had received a legal opinion stating that any physiotherapist using the title ‘Doctor’ without holding a medical qualification would contravene the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916. This legal opinion was adopted by the Council in 2004, which led to the committee’s reiteration that physiotherapists should not use the ‘Dr’ prefix.