8 months ago
Kerala High Court Allows Physiotherapists to Use 'Dr' Title
The Kerala High Court has decided that physiotherapists and occupational therapists can use the title 'Dr' before their names.
This decision came after the court dismissed a petition by the Indian Medical Association and other medical professionals who wanted to stop therapists from using this title.
The court said that the title 'Dr' is not only for medical doctors and that therapists are recognized as healthcare professionals under a special law.
The court also mentioned that the title 'Dr' comes from a Latin word meaning teacher, and even people with PhDs can use it.
The government's policy is to have a team of different healthcare professionals working together, and the court did not want to change this policy.
Kerala High Court dismissed a petition preventing physiotherapists and occupational therapists from using the title 'Dr'.
The court overruled its interim order that had prohibited the use of the title without a recognized medical qualification.
The judgment held that medical doctors do not have an exclusive right to the title 'Doctor'.
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, recognizes physiotherapists and occupational therapists as healthcare professionals.
The court reasoned that the NMC Act does not grant the exclusive right to use the 'Dr' title and that the title's origin is not exclusive to medical professionals.
- Who
- Kerala High Court, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), physiotherapists, occupational therapists
- What
- Kerala High Court's decision to allow physiotherapists and occupational therapists to use the title 'Dr'
- Where
- Kerala High Court, India
- When
- January 22, 2026 (judgment), November 4, 2025 (interim order)
- Why
- To recognize physiotherapists and occupational therapists as healthcare professionals under the NCAHP Act, 2021
Key facts
- Petitioners
- Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), and some physicians
- Respondents
- Union government and representative bodies for allied and healthcare professionals
- Legislation
- National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021
- Court's Decision
- Dismissed the petition, allowing physiotherapists and occupational therapists to use 'Dr' title
- Title Usage
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists can use 'Dr' with suffix 'PT' or 'OT'
- Training Hours
- 3,000 to 6,000 hours for therapists
- Court's Reasoning
- NMC Act does not grant exclusive right to 'Dr' title; title's origin is not exclusive to medical professionals
- Government Policy
- Multi-disciplinary team-based care approach
Quotes
Justice V G Arun
Justice of the Kerala High Court
“Therefore the contention that the title 'Doctor' exclusively belongs to medical professionals is a misconception since even now, like in the olden times, persons with higher educational qualifications like PhD are entitled to use the title 'Doctor'.”
indianexpress.com
“It will be inappropriate for this Court to tinker with the policy of the Government or read down the provisions of the Act or the Curriculum at the instance of a few medical professionals.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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