Ministry orders doctors to write prescriptions and reports in block capitals

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, May 23, 2014: The old joke about a doctors lover going to the ’Pharmacist’ to read his notes will be revolutionized soon perhaps.A Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the direction of the Medical Council of India (MCI),  is to issue a notification in this regard. It will make it mandatory for doctors  to write prescriptions in capital letters only.  Even though there has been a general  consensus on this for some time now not all doctors write prescriptions legibly and in capitals. 

Writing prescriptions and diagnostic reports in capital letters is a part of the MBBS curriculum. However, it is rarely practiced, leaving both patients and pharmacists at sea due to illegible prescriptions. The diagnosis and even how the medication has to be taken, orally or externally /topically, should also be written clearly, so that there is no confusion for the patient or the pharmacist.

Medical Superintendent, Victoria Hospital, Dr. Devadass said, “All doctors should be using capital letters, as it is very important to write the names of medicines and even diagnosis reports clearly, especially in Medico Legal Cases (MLC). We are yet to receive the official orders in this regard, but this is a part of the study for medical students and it is just that it’s not being followed correctly.” Citing how confusion over the name of the medicine in the prescription could have serious consequences he mentioned cases that could have been avoided if the norms were followed.

State Vice President, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Karnataka Chapter,Dr.Anil said, “We have been making our members aware of  this since the time the MCI had issued instructions. And now, with the ministry issuing notifications, it will be an order and every medical practitioner will be bound to follow it. In fact, in all seminars and workshops with young medicos, we have been stressing the importance and usefulness of writing prescriptions in capital letters. This is also taught during the MBBS course.”

The Health ministry is  to soon  issue a gazette notification directing all doctors to write prescriptions in capital letters to avoid medication errors. Recently, the MCI recommended to the Ministry of Health to make it compulsory for doctors to use block letters when writing names and dosages of drugs. 

An MCI official said the recommendation was sent to the ministry keeping in mind the problems of drug store owners, pharmacists, attendants of patients and nurses.  Hopefully the past mistakes will be avoided for safety of the sick and the well.