Only MBBS/BDS Holders Can Use ‘Doctor’ Title: High Court

The High Court has ruled that only individuals holding an MBBS or BDS degree can use the title ‘Doctor’ before their names.

On Wednesday (March 12), a High Court bench comprising Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Sathika Hossain delivered the verdict.

In its ruling, the High Court stated that those who have used the title ‘Doctor’ without an MBBS or BDS degree until now will not face any action. However, starting from Thursday (March 13), anyone violating this directive by using the title unlawfully will face legal consequences.

Welcoming the verdict, protesting doctors have demanded its swift publication in the government gazette. However, they have declared that they will continue their movement until their other demands are met.

Students from various medical colleges, demanding that no one without an MBBS or BDS degree be allowed to use the title ‘Doctor,’ have staged protests, including class boycotts. Intern doctors have joined their movement in solidarity, followed by postgraduate trainee doctors.

A coalition named ‘All Levels of Doctors and Medical Students’ has been formed, bringing together 17 organizations representing students, intern doctors, and medical professionals. Under this platform, medical and dental students are boycotting classes, while interns are observing a three-hour work stoppage daily.

Five-Point Demand by Doctors:

• Only MBBS/BDS degree holders should be allowed to use the title ‘Doctor’ before their names.
• A directive must be issued prohibiting anyone other than ‘registered doctors (MBBS/BDS)’ from independently practicing private medicine.
• Within the next seven working days, a committee must be formed to revise the Medical Assistant Course curriculum, and all substandard Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS) must be shut down through a special operation.
• To ensure public healthcare, a sufficient number of doctors should be recruited to fill vacant positions, and the age limit for BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) medical exams should be raised to 34 years.
• A law ensuring doctors' safety must be enacted immediately, along with the introduction of a structured pay scale for private-sector doctors.