Physiotherapists are not medical doctors, cannot use ‘Dr.’ prefix: DGHS

The Directorate General of Health Services has issued a directive asking physiotherapists not to use the lsquoDrrsquo prefix as they are not medical doctorsIn a letter dated September 9 DGHS Dr Sunita Sharma stated that by using the lsquoDrrsquo prefix physiotherapists will be in legal violation of the Indian Medical Degrees Act 1916ldquoPhysiotherapists are not trained as medical doctors and therefore should not use the prefix Dr as it misleads patients and the general public potentially leading to quackeryrdquo Sharma said in the letter addressed to Dr Dilip Bhanushali National President IMAPhysiotherapists should not be permitted to primary care practice and should only treat referred patients as they are not trained to diagnose medical conditions some of which may worsen with inappropriate physiotherapy interventionrdquo she addedThe letter also cited previous legal pronouncements and advisory orders issued by various courts including the Patna and Madras High Courts and medical councils in the country which prohibited physiotherapistsoccupational therapists from using the Dr prefixIn April the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions NCAHP announced that physiotherapists can now use the lsquoDrrsquo title as a prefix and lsquoPTrsquo as a suffix to their namesThe decision came as part of the launch of the 2025 Physiotherapy Curriculum by the NCAHP under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfareldquolt is pertinent to mention that the Ethics Committee of the Council Paramedical and Physiotherapy Central Council Bill 2007 had earlier decided that the title Doctor Dr may only be used by registered medical practitioners of Modern Medicine Ayurveda Homoeopathy and Unani No other category of medical professionals including nursing and paramedical staff is permitted to use this titlerdquo the DGHS saidThe letter further noted that any violation ldquoattracts action under Section 7 of the IMA Act for contravention of Section 6 ampamp 6Ardquo as the legal opinion was adopted by the Council in its meeting held in March 2004ldquoIt is hereby directed that the usage of the prefix Dr for physiotherapists in the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy Approved Syllabus 2025 be removed forthwith A more appropriate and respectful title may be considered for graduates and postgraduates of physiotherapy without causing ambiguity to patients or the publicrdquo the letter saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever