Can a Physiotherapist be called a Medical Doctor?

The medical field offers several career opportunities for students in India. Two of these career prospects includes a Physiotherapist and a medical doctor. “can a Physiotherapist be called a Medical doctor”, this question has been a centre of debate for a long time. Several acts and verdicts have been made in the past regarding this.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) is the entry level course in the field of Physiotherapy education in India. After completing the BPT course, graduates can practise as physiotherapists or may choose Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) for further higher study. On the other hand, becoming a medical doctor in India requires an MBBS degree. After completing an MBBS degree, individuals receive the title of “Doctor”. After completing MBBS, doctors can further pursue postgraduate degrees like Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of Surgery (MS). Read the full article to know comprehensive details on “Can a Physiotherapist use the prefix dr”?

Difference between Physiotherapy and MBBS

One of the most asked question related to Physiotherapy and MBBS is “Are Physiotherapists doctors”. Many people get confused between these two. Below is an overview of both Physiotherapy and MBBS.

Physiotherapy vs MBBS

Recognition of Physiotherapists - The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1994

The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1994, regulates the training of rehabilitation professionals and maintains a Central Rehabilitation Register. The "physiotherapist" is a rehabilitation professional in India, and only those individuals with a recognised qualification and registered with the RCI can practise as a physiotherapist in India. This act ensures that physiotherapists follow the regulations of the RCI act.

As per this act, Physiotherapists are not allowed to practise medicine or prescribe drugs, without their recognised qualifications. They cannot claim to be a specialist medical practitioner and prefix "Dr" with their name in prescriptions, and is considered as a fraud by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

Can a Physiotherapist be called a Medical doctor - Supreme court’s verdict

The answer to “can a physiotherapist use dr?” is “No”. A Physiotherapist cannot call themselves a doctor. There are three major systems of medicine in India - Allopathic, Ayurvedic, and Homoeopathy. The term ‘doctor’ can be used only by the practitioners of Allopathic systems of Medicine that have been recognised by the Government of India and the physiotherapists are not allowed to portray themselves as registered medical practitioners by prefixing the word ‘Dr’ with their name.

On the basis of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Section 15(2)(b of the 1956 act prohibits all persons from practising modern scientific medicine in any state except a medical practitioner enrolled on a State Medical Register. There are two types of registration - provisional registration for training in an approved institution, and registration under Section 15(1). The third category is the "Indian Medical Register," maintained by the State Medical Council, which requires a recognised medical qualification.

The court noted that a person registered in a State Medical Register cannot be enrolled on the Indian Medical Register unless they possess a recognised medical qualification. As per this verdict each system does not allow crosspathy, and a person with recognised qualifications is only authorised to practise in that system and stated that a person without knowledge of a particular system of medicine is considered as an imposter or a fraud.

Also read -

• How to become a doctor?

• How to become a General Physician?

Top entrance examinations for becoming a Physiotherapist and Medical doctor

Becoming a Physiotherapist or a medical doctor in India requires hard work. The entry level to become a Physiotherapist is through Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), while the first step towards becoming a medical doctor is through an MBBS course.

The below table mentions the list of several entrance examinations that are required for Physiotherapy, and MBBS.

Physiotherapy vs MBBS entrance exams