Physiotherapists are not doctors and cannot use the ‘Dr’ prefix: Health authorityThe health authority said the usage could confuse patients into thinking physiotherapists are medical doctors.

In April this year, the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy, 2025, had suggested that graduates could use “Dr” before their name with the suffix “PT”. However, the DGHS noted that several medical groups, including the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), strongly objected to this proposal.

“Physiotherapists 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 quackery,” said Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, in a letter to the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

The letter also said physiotherapists should work on referral from doctors, not as primary care providers.

The health ministry said that several courts and medical councils have already ruled against physiotherapists using the “Dr” title. Judgments from the Patna High Court (2003), a Bengaluru court (2020), and the Madras High Court (2022), as well as advisories from the Tamil Nadu Medical Council, all confirm that the prefix is reserved for registered medical practitioners.

The DGHS also reminded that using the title without a recognised medical degree violates the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and could lead to legal action.

The healthcare authority has now asked for the syllabus to be corrected immediately. It added that a “more appropriate and respectful title” can be given to physiotherapy graduates without creating confusion for the public.