The Indian Medical Degrees Act of 1916 serves as a foundational statute in India that regulates Western medical qualifications. Its primary objective is to prevent the misuse of medical titles by individuals lacking appropriate qualifications and to uphold the integrity of medical credentials. This Act established a legal framework to oversee medical degrees and protect public health from fraudulent practitioners [1]. Over the years, it has been integrated into a broader legislative framework, which includes the Indian Medical Council Act of 1956 and the contemporary National Medical Commission (NMC) Act of 2019. The NMC Act of 2019 is particularly noteworthy because it delineates the standards governing medical education and practice in India. This Act is crucial to ensuring that qualified medical professionals, including holders of the MBBS degree, are properly registered and recognized to practice medicine nationwide [2].
REFERENCES:
1.Government of India. (1916). The Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916 (Act No. 7 of 1916). National Medical Commission. Retrieved November 7, 2025, from https://www.nmc.org.in/acts-amendments/the-indian-medical-degree-act-1916/
2.National Medical Commission. (n.d.). Introduction. Retrieved November 7, 2025, from https://www.nmc.org.in/about-nmc/introduction/
3.National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions. (n.d.). Home. https://ncahp.abdm.gov.in/
4.National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions. (n.d.). Curriculum. Retrieved November 5, 2025, from https://ncahp.abdm.gov.in/Curriculum
5.National Commission for Allied and Health Professions. (n.d.). Physiotherapy curriculum. Retrieved November 5, 2025, from https://ncahp.abdm.gov.in/Curriculum/Physiotherapy.pdf
6.DGHS withdraws order barring physiotherapists from using “Dr” prefix. (2025, September 11). ThePrint. https://theprint.in/india/dghs-withdraws-directive-barring-physiotherapists-from-using-dr-prefix/2741394/
View PDF