Health · Healthcare & Policy · 5 hrs ago
Dispute grows over foreign doctors’ use of the “MD Physician” title
A dispute has grown over foreign doctors using “MD Physician” as a professional title in India.
In some countries, MD is the name of a doctor’s basic medical degree, while in India the basic qualification is called MBBS.
Indian doctors warn the title could mislead patients who may assume MD means postgraduate training.
The All FMGs Association says the qualification is recognised as equivalent to MBBS in India and graduates should not be called fraudulent for naming it.
The NMC says different countries use different qualification names and that the distinction needs to be clear.
It says some measures have been taken and further steps will follow.
The debate is about how doctors’ qualifications are presented and whether patients can understand what those titles mean.
A dispute has grown over foreign medical graduates in India using the title “MD Physician.”
In some countries, MD is the primary medical qualification, while India uses MBBS for its basic medical degree.
Doctors have warned that the title could mislead patients and other doctors.
The All FMGs Association says the qualification is recognised as equivalent to MBBS in India.
A regulator said the issue stems from differences in qualification names across countries and that further steps will be pursued.
- Who
- Foreign medical graduates, doctors raising concerns, and the All FMGs Association.
- What
- A dispute over foreign graduates using the title “MD Physician” in India.
- When
- The issue has reportedly persisted for nearly a decade; the article was published on November 13, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Some countries call the basic medical qualification an MD, while India calls it MBBS, raising concerns that patients may misunderstand the title.
Doctors raising concerns
All FMGs Association
Use of the title
Doctors raising concerns
The title could mislead patients and other doctors when it suggests a postgraduate qualification.
All FMGs Association
The qualification is recognised as equivalent to MBBS in India, and graduates should not be branded fraudulent for naming their foreign degree.
Professional representation
Doctors raising concerns
Doctors have been advised against such representations, with possible legal consequences warned of.
All FMGs Association
Graduates should be able to mention the degree awarded by their foreign universities.
A senior doctor said the issue had persisted despite repeated representations to regulators.
The Times of India reported the dispute and the differing positions on the “MD Physician” title.
- Title at issue
- MD Physician
- Indian basic medical degree
- MBBS
- Concern raised by
- Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson for the Junior Doctors' Network of the Indian Medical Association
- Regulatory body cited
- National Medical Commission
- Association defending the title
- All FMGs Association
What people are saying
using it in professional titles and online biographies could mislead patients and even other doctors
Patients cannot be expected to know the difference