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“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. As per the latest update, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in India has ruled that physiotherapists cannot use the "Dr" prefix, as it may mislead patients into thinking they are medical doctors.
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”?
India's DGHS has banned physiotherapists from using the "Dr" prefix, as they are not medical doctors, to prevent patient confusion. The decision, prompted by objections, aligns with court rulings and requires immediate changes to the 2025 physiotherapy curriculum to remove the prefix, as per the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916. Physiotherapists can no longer use "Dr" prefix now.
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.
Features | Physiotherapy | MBBS |
Full name | Bachelor of Physiotherapy | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
Field | Paramedical | Medical |
Duration | 4 years and 6 months (internship of 6 months) | 5 years and 6 months (includes 1 year of mandatory internship) |
Course type | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Admission through | Entrance exam/ merit-based | |
Higher education | MPT | MD/MS |
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.
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, Ayurvedic, and Homoepathic 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.
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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.
Feature | Physiotherapy | MBBS |
Minimum eligibility | 10 + 2 or its equivalent from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology | 10 + 2 or its equivalent from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
Entrance exam |
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