Hyderabad doctors' associations demand legible prescriptions for patient safety

Hyderabad: The issue of doctors writing unclear or illegible prescriptions has become a serious concern in recent years. Even a small error in reading a prescription can put a patient’s life at risk.

Because of this, major public health regulatory authorities and doctors’ associations asked for prescriptions to be written clearly. They have raised the need to have well-written medical prescriptions and also the gradual transition to prescriptions that have zero chances of errors.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Punjab and Haryana High Court slammed doctors for continuing to write illegible prescriptions despite access to computers, and has directed them to write in clear, bold capital letters until a comprehensive digital prescription system is established. The court emphasised that patients have a fundamental right to receive clear and readable medical prescriptions, stressing that poor handwriting can directly impact a patient’s health and safety.

Also read- GMCH 32 mandates doctors to prescribe in capital letters or digital form

To prevent confusion, the court instructed the government to introduce handwriting training in medical curricula and to implement a nationwide digital system within two years. Until then, it directed doctors to write in bold, legible letters.

Complying with the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and the directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as well as the Supreme Court of India, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, administration has asked all its doctors to write prescriptions either in legible capital letters or through computerisation.

Notably, the NMC in its Generic Medicine and Prescription guidelines released in 2023 stated that written prescriptions should be legible and preferably in full CAPITALS to avoid misinterpretation. As far as possible, prescriptions should be typed and printed to reduce errors.

In fact, a study from eastern India reveals that over 36% of patients have a poor understanding of prescription medication instructions, risking adherence and safety.

Expert opinions

In Hyderabad, organisations like the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC), the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and senior public health specialists have repeatedly stressed the importance of clear prescriptions. They indicated that this will help patients, their families, and pharmacists understand the medicines better.

Well-known Hyderabad-based neurologist, Dr Sudhir Kumar, has consistently highlighted the threat to patient safety. Dr Sudhir has, on multiple occasions, advised doctors on X to embrace typed prescriptions, which reduces misinterpretation.

“Illegible handwriting in prescriptions can create serious risks for patients, including receiving the wrong medicine, incorrect dose, or wrong duration of treatment. To ensure patient safety and avoid medication errors, prescriptions must be written clearly and legibly,” he said.

Dr Gautam Pasula, senior office bearer of Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), told Telangana Today, "A legible prescription allows future doctors to easily understand the patient’s treatment history, supporting accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning."

He added, "Proper handwriting on medical prescriptions also clearly identifies qualified practitioners. Legible prescriptions, especially when written in capital letters, make it easier to distinguish genuine prescriptions written by qualified doctors from those written by quacks or unauthorised individuals who may not even know proper drug names or spellings."

Not only doctors but even pharmacist organisations are supporting this change and have been raising their voice against the illegible handwriting. Recently, the Karnataka State Doctors’ Handwriting Improvement Association (KSDHIA) asked pharmacists in the state to reject any handwritten prescription that violates the rules set by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Also read- Handwritten Prescriptions Pose Barrier to Patient Understanding, Indian Study Finds