Haryana doctors told to write prescriptions in bold or capital letters
Court Ruling Prompts Prescription Clarity Reform in Haryana
Chandigarh: The Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Haryana, has issued a directive mandating that all medical diagnosis and prescriptions be written in capital or bold letters. The directive applies to all registered medical practitioners across government and private hospitals, clinics, and health centres across the state.
This move follows a landmark judgment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which recognized that legible prescriptions are a core component of a patient's Fundamental Right to Health under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that observing that legible medical prescriptions and diagnosis form an essential part of a patient’s right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed doctors to write prescriptions and diagnosis notes in capital letters until computerisation or typed prescriptions become the norm. The directive follows a shocking incident where the court was unable to understand a single word from a medico-legal report concerning a rape case due to the illegible handwriting of the doctors involved.
In its ruling, the court observed that illegible handwriting by medical professionals can directly endanger lives—leading to medication errors, incorrect dosages, and in extreme cases, even death.
In response, the Haryana Health Department has acted swiftly, mandating that doctors must write prescriptions only in capital or bold letters to remove ambiguity and enhance clarity.
According to News 18, this policy change aims to eliminate the ambiguity caused by poor handwriting, which has been a leading cause of preventable harm to patients globally. The directive aligns with a growing push for greater transparency and accuracy in medical documentation and is a crucial step toward modernising healthcare practices in the state.
Also Read:GMCH 32 mandates doctors to prescribe in capital letters or digital form
To ensure strict compliance, the Health Department has instructed all pharmacies to reject prescriptions that do not follow the new formatting guidelines. The government is also planning to conduct workshops for doctors and pharmacists to standardize prescription practices. Additionally, it is exploring the implementation of e-prescriptions, with a pilot project already underway in select districts. Though straightforward in execution, this initiative is expected to significantly enhance the quality of healthcare and improve patient well-being across Haryana.
