An MD in India is usually a postgraduate degree following completion of the MBBS. However, in many countries including those that Indian students study medicine in, an MD (Physician) is the main medical degree, and is seen as equivalent to an MBBS.
This could cause confusion amongst individuals who know how the medical degree system works in India. Those with ‘MD’ following their names may be assumed to have undertaken postgraduate training.
Dr. Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson for the Junior Doctors’ Network (JDN), under the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressed concerns recently on X.
Concerns were raised about foreign medical graduates using the ‘MD’ title in their professional titles and online profiles. This could create confusion among patients and other medical professionals that they have undertaken postgraduate training.
This could also lead to legal issues so doctors should be cautious, Chauhan said.
This topic has also been raised to the regulatory bodies almost a decade ago, a senior doctor told The Times of India. However, patients should not be expected to know the difference between the titles.
Dr. MK Ramesh, President of the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) Medical Assessment and Rating Board, said that there was confusion over the different names of medical degrees in different countries.
"Some countries give the MD as a basic degree whereas we give the MBBS," Dr. Ramesh told The Times of India. "This is something we have to acknowledge. We have taken some steps but we will be doing more."
The All Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) Association have defended doctors who use the ‘MD Physician’ title.
They argue that foreign medical graduates have degrees from their university which are recognized as equivalent to an MBBS in India. Doctors should not be called frauds for stating the real title of their degree.
The main issue is what the letters ‘MD’ stand for.
In India, an MD usually means they have undertaken postgraduate training, however in some countries it is the degree they receive once they have completed basic medical training.
While this may seem like just a terminology issue, it can cause confusion amongst patients. Those seeing ‘MD’ following a doctor's name may assume they have undertaken specialist training, however they may not realize that this could be a basic medical degree in another country.
This has highlighted just how important it is to be clear with how foreign medical graduates state their degrees in India. Regulators will need to find a way to overcome this confusion while acknowledging the titles given by overseas institutions.
Rh/MF