Telangana HC notice to MCI over doctors handwriting

It is mandatory for all doctors to write the prescriptions in Capital Letters to avoid confusion due to illegible handwriting of doctors, as per the Regulation 1.5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, which mandates every physician "prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters".

The PIL seeking the implementation of the aforesaid clause recently reached the High Court and sought a direction to ensure all doctors in the country wrote generic names of medicines in their prescriptions.

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According to recent media accounts, the plea was filed by one concerned, a retired government teacher from Nalgonda district, who noted that as per Clause 1.5 of the Regulations, every doctor should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly, preferably in capital letters, and ensure their rational use. Via his petition, he sought directions to the State Director of Medical Education and Director of Health Sciences to comply with the above regulations and publicise these to ensure that all medical doctors comply with it.

The petitioner's counsel told the court that MCI regulations have already made it mandatory for the doctors to follow the legible and generic route, but these norms are not being followed, reports TOI.

It was also pointed out that pharmacists face difficulties in procuring medicines due to illegible handwriting of the doctors and sometimes send up giving wrong medicines.

"The Directors of Medical Education and Health Sciences should forthwith act upon the letter written by the MCI in 2017, asking them to publicise the said clause in the interest of the people. Failure to implement the said provision would give people scope to buy wrong medicines. Additionally, physicians' writing style confuses pharmacists, who end up giving wrong medicines to patients," the counsel for the petitioner presented before the court, as per TNIE

In a letter, the MCI had urged all the registered medical practitioners in the country to comply with that clause.

It was stressed that the Indian Medical Council clearly states that any doctor violating Clause 1.5 would face disciplinary action by the concerned authority of the MCI.

The petitioner requested the court to pass an order declaring that failure of the authorities to ensure physicians mentioned generic names of medicines in the prescriptions was arbitrary and illegal, adds the Hindu.

Considering the plea as valid, the bench of Honourable Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy instructed the Centre and the State along with the Medical Council of India to file counter-affidavits within four weeks.

The bench directed the petitioner to implead Indian medical association (IMA) to the plea. "That is a doctors' association and they should know about the case," the bench said and posted the matter to June 24.

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