Gurugram: The Haryana Physiotherapists Forum has come out strongly against the recent order issued on 9 September 2025 by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Haryana, Dr. Sunita Sharma, seeking to bar physiotherapists from using the prefix “Dr.” before their names. The Forum has called the move “an attempt to defame a noble profession and misguide the public.”
The controversial order, issued earlier this month, created widespread resentment among physiotherapists across the state. The association pointed out that physiotherapy is already regulated by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, a law passed by the Parliament of India, which clearly permits physiotherapists to use the prefix “Dr.” with the suffix (PT).
After widespread protests, interventions by The Indian Association of Physiotherapists and professional associations, and a formal objection lodged with NCAHP, the DGHS was forced to roll back the decision and withdraw the order on 10 September 2025. The reversal, physiotherapists said, proves that the DGHS had “no authority to bypass or overrule parliamentary law.”
“This order was not only unlawful but also a deliberate attempt to defame physiotherapists and create confusion in society,” said Dr. Sarvotam Chauhan (PT), Former President of IAP Haryana, who is based in Gurugram. He added that physiotherapists across the state are highly trained professionals who have contributed significantly to public health, rehabilitation, and preventive care. “NCAHP has already clarified that physiotherapists can proudly use the prefix Dr. with the suffix PT. Any attempt to deny this is nothing more than a publicity stunt,” he remarked.
Several senior physiotherapists across Haryana have also voiced strong opposition to the DGHS’s order. Dr. Dheeraj Mehta (PT) from Hisar, Dr. Vikas Monga (PT) from Fatehabad, and Dr. Jagjeet Singh (PT) from Sonipat jointly described the directive as “ignorance of established guidelines and a disrespect to the profession.”
Dr. Jitesh Sharma (PT) and Dr. Devender Rathee (PT) from Faridabad stressed that physiotherapists are integral to patient recovery and rehabilitation sciences. “We work in hospitals, trauma care, ICUs, and sports medicine. Our contribution is undeniable. Recognition of physiotherapists as Dr. (PT) is not only lawful but necessary to ensure patients acknowledge our role in their recovery,” they said.
From other regions, Dr. Sahil Bajaj (PT), Dr. Deepak Indora (PT) of Panipat, Dr. Sandeep Arora (PT) of Karnal, and Dr. Yogesh Sharma (PT) of Rohtak stated that physiotherapy forms “an essential pillar of healthcare delivery” and cannot be demeaned for “cheap publicity or administrative overreach.”
Adding further weight, Dr. Ajay Yadav (PT) from Rewari, Dr. Mohit Nain (PT) from Jind, Dr. Sunil Sharma (PT) from Bhiwani, and Dr. Mandeep Jangra (PT) from Ambala warned that physiotherapists across Haryana would resist any such attempts in the future. “We stand united. Any effort to take away our dignity or professional rights will be strongly opposed both at the state and national level,” they said in a joint statement.
Women physiotherapists have also raised their voices. Dr. Niti Prakash (PT) and Megha Neb (PT) from Panchkula said the DGHS’s action attempted to “mislead the public into questioning the credibility of physiotherapists, despite their regulated status under parliamentary law.” They added that such moves not only harm the profession but also erode public trust in the healthcare system.
The Haryana Physiotherapists Forum underlined that physiotherapists undergo rigorous training, often at the level of postgraduate and doctoral research, and their contribution to modern medicine—from orthopaedics and neurology to sports and women’s health—is widely recognised worldwide. “To question their right to use Dr. (PT) is to deny patients clarity and to demean professionals who dedicate their lives to recovery and rehabilitation,” the statement said.
The Forum has demanded a public apology from DGHS Haryana, Dr. Sunita Sharma, holding her responsible for attempting to bypass a law passed by Parliament and for “trying to defame a noble profession.”
The press release concluded by affirming that physiotherapists across Haryana and all over India remain united and will continue to safeguard the dignity of their profession. “The public should not be misled by such orders. The NCAHP Act has already secured the title Dr. (PT) for physiotherapists, and no state authority has the power to undo what Parliament has legislated.”
