Often you must have seen that the prescriptions written by doctors are not easily understood by everyone. The reason is his writing. Many times even pharmacists are unable to understand the doctor’s handwriting. Due to which people face a lot of trouble, but this will not happen now. Now doctors will not be able to act arbitrarily in writing medicine prescriptions. It will now be mandatory for them to write clear and readable prescription slips.
The National Medical Science Commission (NMC) has taken a big decision regarding this. Under the decision of the Commission, now a sub-committee will be formed in all the medical colleges of the country which will monitor the prescriptions of doctors. This means that now it will be necessary for doctors to write clean, clear and readable prescriptions. The Commission believes that due to unclear prescriptions, wrong medicines, delay in treatment and even danger to the lives of patients are being created, which will no longer be tolerated.
Why did NMC take this decision?
NMC issued orders to medical colleges asking them to form a special sub-committee under the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) which will monitor the prescriptions of doctors. In fact, the prescription handwriting of most doctors is so complex that it is neither understandable nor readable. In such a situation this
Prescriptions are emerging as a serious problem for the health system of patients, which can lead to wrong medication, delayed treatment and even serious health risks. Both experts and judiciary are raising their voice in this matter.
The court took the decision after strictness
Recently, Punjab and Haryana High Court had commented on the handwriting of doctors’ prescriptions. While hearing a case, the court had said that clear and readable medical slip is part of the patients’ right to health which comes under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court also said that in the already existing medical rules and code of conduct, neat handwriting has been made mandatory for doctors, but it is not being followed in practice.
Dr. Anand Pandey, senior doctor of Max Hospital, says that the hand-written prescriptions of most of the doctors are so poorly written that even the chemists and pharmacists are able to understand them with great difficulty. In such prescriptions, essential information like the correct dosage, time, name and instructions of the medicines are not clear, due to which the risk of the patient getting the wrong medicine or wrong dosage increases.
Information will be given to medical students
NMC said in the order that the sub-committee formed in medical colleges will identify the slips written deviating from the rules and give advice for their improvement. This information will be given to the commission by the college. The Commission has also made it clear in the order that now medical students will be taught how to write the slip clearly, clearly and legibly. If we look at the current rules, doctors should write medicines with generic names, clearly and preferably in capital letters. Following this rule is already mandatory, but now it will be implemented more strictly.
If the slip is not clearly written then complain
According to the Commission, medicine cannot be given without a valid prescription under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The Pharmacy Act, 1948 also advocates the same rule while the Clinical Establishment Rules prohibit issuing prescriptions without registration. In such a situation, every doctor should write a clear prescription and must mention his name and registration number on it. If this information is not available then a complaint can be made directly to the Medical Council or District Medical and Health Officer.
Changes possible through digital records
NMC has also indicated in its order that measures like digital prescription and electronic health records can reduce mistakes in the future. However, till then, clarity and legibility of hand-written slips is extremely important.
Why don’t doctors write clear prescriptions?
Psychiatrist (Prof.) Lokesh Singh Shekhawat of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi said that many doctors are overloaded with patients. In such a situation, writing the slip clearly and in capital letters takes more time whereas writing quickly helps in getting the work done faster.
Dr. Shubham Anand of Jodhpur AIIMS said that a major reason for this problem is small clinics and nursing homes. Many nursing homes have their own pharmacies, where doctors write prescriptions that only that pharmacy can understand. Due to this, the patient is forced to take the medicine from the same place. Similarly, in some small clinics, doctors deliberately write prescriptions in unclear or complicated handwriting, so that the patient buys the medicine only from a particular pharmacist. In such cases the doctor gets commission on the sale of the medicine.
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