Can Physiotherapists be called Doctors?

Can Physiotherapists be called Doctors?

3 mins read2.1L Views 29 Comments
Nidhi
Nidhi Gupta
Deputy Manager
Updated on Sep 24, 2025 17:54 IST

Physiotherapists are often found under the scanner if they use Dr as a title after their name. The question remains: is a Physiotherapist a Doctor? Let us find out in this article if a physiotherapist is a doctor or can a BPT can be called a Doctor in India? 

Physiotherapists have been looking for a recognistion since long time. They want the 'Doctor' title with their names after they have graduated with BPT. But, is it allowed? Can a Physiotherapist be called a 'doctor'? Let us find out if the Indian Medical Council allows this recognition and why there is an ongoing debate on this trending topic through this article. 

There has been an ongoing debate for years that who can be called a doctor in India, as there are several healthcare streams in the country. However, in a judgment released by the Supreme Court (SC) way back in 1996, it was held that medical practitioners who have an MBBS degree and above can only be referred to as 'Doctors'. Physiotherapists register with their council as therapists only and cannot prefix their names with the title of โ€˜Drโ€™. The Madras High Court had also said that even Ayurveda and Siddha practitioners should not use this title.

It is to be noted that DPT Physiotherapists are also called Physical Therapists. In India, it is BPT & MBBS instead of DPT & MD. However, the Indian Association of Physiotherapists has a different story to tell. According to the association, physiotherapists can use the title โ€˜Drโ€™ before their names, and the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have no statutory power to regulate the profession in India. The General Secretary of IAP has started a trial against IMA and MCI for defaming the professionals by asking them not to call themselves 'Doctor'. They also said that physiotherapist will prefix their names with โ€˜Drโ€™ and suffix the same with (PT) and write physiotherapist in all their communications.

The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1994

The RCI Act was enacted in 1994 to regulate the training of rehabilitation professions and to maintain a central rehabilitation register for all matters connected to these professions. According to Section 2 in XVII chapter of the RCI Act, the term โ€˜physiotherapistโ€™ refers to a rehabilitation professional. Thus, Indian physiotherapists are regulated by the provisions of the RCI Act and its rules and regulations.

The act also states that physiotherapists are not allowed to practice medicine and to prescribe drugs, especially the scheduled drugs that are listed in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act on their own. They do not possess the recognised qualification as mentioned in the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. Also, they cannot and should not claim to be a specialist medical practitioner by prefixing โ€˜Drโ€™ with their name in their prescription. Practicing this is an offense in the eyes of the law, and the said person is a quack and can be dealt with imprisonment or penalty, or both.

Supreme Courtโ€™s Verdict

The SC says that Section 15 (2) (b) of the 1956 Act prohibits all practitioners from practicing and prescribing modern scientific medicine in any state and in any medical branch except the medical practitioner who has been enrolled in the Medical Register of the state. It further elaborates that the term โ€˜doctorโ€™ should be used only by the practitioners of Allopathic systems of Medicine that have been recognised by the Government of India. The term should not be considered for modes of therapy. The physiotherapists are not allowed to portray themselves as registered medical practitioners by prefixing the word โ€˜Drโ€™ with their name. If they are found guilty, then they are considered to have committed an offense under different sections of the Indian Penal Code.

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Nidhi Gupta
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Eight years back, serendipity brought Nidhi to the field of content and since then she hooked on it with her creative insights and a knack for informative writing. Playing her magic of words in the education beat, s Read Full Bio
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Comments

(29)

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Sathish Kumar

3 days ago

indian medical council can regulate only their registered members. They have no authority over any other forms of medicare-Ayurveda, sidda etc. can Pharmacy council direct nursing members?

Reply to Sathish Kumar

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Flamin Mongrel

3 months ago

It would have been funny if the site wasn't called 'shiksha.com', how do you go around copy pasting IMA white papers that have no legal standing and contain wrongful interpretation of the judgement? RCI does not include Physiotherapists and never has, MoHFW has already issued the new curriculum allo

...Read more

Reply to Flamin Mongrel

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Sumeet Ghai

3 months ago

The NCAHP is an independent body established to regulate and maintain standards of education and services provided by allied and healthcare professionals. It is subject to the Supreme Court's authority and cannot supersede its rulings.

Reply to Sumeet Ghai

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shivang sharma

4 months ago

You have wrong information about physiotherapists. They don't come under Rehabilitation Council of India. And Central Government Act has clearly stated that Physiotherapist can put Dr prefix and PT suffix. And can independently practice.

Reply to shivang sharma

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vandana sn

5 months ago

According to ISCO CODE 22-64 & New physiotherapy curriculum 2025 under NCAHP act, 2021 A physiotherapist/physical therapist has an official designation of Dr. |Name| PT Please do change your article which is misleading people on internet & also devaluing an image of physiotherapists.

Reply to vandana sn

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Sumeet Ghai

3 months ago

Do NCAHP over rule SC ruling? If yes then please type in