New Delhi, September 11: The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has withdrawn its directive barring physiotherapists from using the “Dr” prefix, just a day after issuing the order. The Central Government clarified that the issue requires “further examination and deliberations.”

On September 9, DGHS Director General Dr. Sunita Sharma issued a letter to Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, declaring that physiotherapists cannot use the “Dr” prefix. The letter cited legal violations under the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, and directed that the 2025 Competency-Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy be immediately corrected to remove the title.

The letter stated: “Persons with qualifications in physiotherapy are not entitled to use the prefix ‘Dr’ under any circumstances whatsoever. A more appropriate and respectful title may be considered for graduates and postgraduates of physiotherapy, without causing ambiguity to patients or the public.”

The September 9 directive came after strong objections from bodies including the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), which argued that physiotherapists are not trained as medical doctors and should not act as primary care providers. IAPMR warned that misuse of the title could mislead patients, encourage quackery, and contradict multiple judicial pronouncements—such as the Patna High Court (2003), a Bengaluru court ruling (2020), and the Madras High Court (2022)—all of which upheld that the “Dr” title is reserved only for registered medical practitioners.

Back in 2016, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council had also cautioned physiotherapists against using “Dr,” categorizing them as paramedics/technicians. The DGHS further referenced earlier council decisions and legal opinions reiterating that physiotherapists fall outside the scope of those legally permitted to use the title.

However, on September 10, the DGHS issued a fresh communication to the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), the Secretary APMR at AIIMS Nagpur, and the IMA President, declaring its September 9 order withdrawn. “Representations have been received on this matter which require further examination and deliberations. Hence, the aforesaid D.O. letter may be treated as withdrawn,” the DGHS clarified.

The controversy stems from the NCAHP’s April 2025 recommendations, which proposed allowing physiotherapists to use the “Dr” prefix with the suffix “PT” in the Competency-Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy. The move triggered heated debate between medical and physiotherapy associations.