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Physiotherapists Are Not Medical Doctors, No 'Dr.' for Them
On 9 September 2025, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued a letter - signed by DGHS head Dr Sunita Sharma - asking the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) to remove the provision in the Competency-Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy (2025) that allowed physiotherapists to use the prefix “Dr.” (with “PT” as a suffix). The DGHS letter cites the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and earlier court rulings, and says allowing the title risks public confusion and misuse.
Details of the DGHS Directive
A ban was declared by DGHS Dr. Sunita Sharma on 9th SEPTEMBER 2025 with a letter to NGO Dr Dilip P. Bhanushali (IMA), National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), The Medical Section. Key points include:
- Banning of ‘Dr’ Prefix: Physiotherapists are not medical doctors and cannot use ‘Dr’ as a prefix to their name, which contravenes the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916 (section 6 & 6A).
- Reason: Patients are mislead by the prefix and could be subject to quackery as physiotherapists are not trained to diagnose medical conditions.
- Court of jurisdiction: Physiotherapists would be limited to a secondary role, to rein in potential iatrogenic effects from untreated conditions.
- Legal Support: DGHS cited earlier judicial pronouncements, including decisions referenced in Patna and Madras High Court records, and previous medical council advisories
- NCAHP reverts back: In an April 2025 notification, the NCAHP had permission ‘Dr’ with ‘PT’ suffixed for physiotherapists to be used in their 2025 Curriculum, a move that has been retracted now.
- Action Required: Remove the doctor's acronym in the 2025 curriculum: The DGHS requires removing the ‘Dr.’ from the 2025 curriculum and recommends a “more appropriate and respectful title” to eliminate any ambiguity.
The order refers to a 2004 decision of the Paramedical and Physiotherapy Central Council and states that action could be taken Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916 — Sections 6/6A and remedies under Section 7 for non-compliance. (1600 x 266 px) (3).gif)
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Why the Ban Was Enforced
Objectives of DGHS are to safeguard patients and define professional duties:
- Deterrence Misrepresentation: The title ‘Dr’ could cause patients to confuse physiotherapists with medical doctors, and thereby result in misdiagnosis or unsuitable intervention.
- Regulatory Alignment: The ban is supported by the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and various court decisions, which stipulate that only a qualified medical practitioner may adopt the title.
- Safety: Keeping physiotherapists to those referred by a GP is safer to avoid any undiagnosed problems.
That’s in reverse of NCAHP’s April 2023 action that attempted to increase professionalism, but had blocked clarity – Reigniting physiotherapy issue, meaning patients were confused!
Implications for Physiotherapists and Patients
India Draft PTT Education and Practice Directive – Reshaping physiotherapy education in India 2025:
- Professional Title: Physios need to use a different title (i.e. PT or full credentials) to lessen public confusion, but this may lead them to lose some level of prestige.
- Significance to Practice: Implications for branding and practice are substantial, as students in the 2025 curriculum need to familiarise themselves with new naming conventions.
- Patient Perception: Some patients might ask themselves why their physiotherapist isn’t a ‘real physiotherapist without the ‘Dr’ title, but enhanced role clarity will hopefully promote trust in medical relationships.
- Compliance Required: The institutions must be updated with all the signs and documents; otherwise, they may violate the IMA Act, which imposes penalties for non-compliance.
The UK, too, only allows those registered with the GMC to use the title of ‘Dr’, and there are similar restrictions in Australia (where protected titles are listed under the AHRA), with patient safety being the primary consideration globally. This is in line with regulations in Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Bihar, where ‘Dr’ can only be used by MBBS/MD practitioners, but enforcement is lax.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Implementing the ban faces hurdles:
- Enforcement: Ensuring compliance at the clinic and institution level is difficult, as evidenced in previous title misappropriation cases.
- Pushback from a Profession: The physiotherapy profession may oppose this, arguing against previous approval by NCAHP and resulting in protests or court action.
- Curriculum Changes: The revised 2025 syllabus must now be introduced in the schools and for this, NCAHP needs to be on board.
Then the aspiring physiotherapists (PTs) should keep checking on NCAHP or Ministry of Health portals for new guidelines and course curricula after September 2025.
Join the Conversation
Does the DGHS directive physiotherapy 2025 specify roles, or is it a blatant attempt to curtail the profession of physiotherapy from within? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and follow NCAHP or IMA for news on the ban of Dr prefix use by physiotherapists.
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