Dr. Ketan Bhatikhar, IAP ex-officio, has defended the legal entitlement of physiotherapists to use the title “Dr.”, citing approval from the Government of India. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone spreading misinformation or attempting to malign the profession.
Dr. Bhatikhar also questioned the authority of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to override the decision of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), which had formally approved the use of “Dr.” by physiotherapists.
He further claimed that the recent DGHS communication on restricting the title was withdrawn under pressure, alleging that “someone named Sunita was forced to retract the letter.”
The dispute has reignited debate over professional titles in healthcare, highlighting tensions between regulatory bodies and allied health practitioners.