In a significant step to enhance patient safety and clinical documentation, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has instructed all medical colleges across India to include the importance of legible prescriptions in their training curriculum. This directive also mandates the formation of prescription monitoring committees in every institution. The move aims to address longstanding concerns about illegible medical prescriptions, a factor contributing to medication errors and compromised patient care. The NMC’s decision follows a judicial observation linking readable prescriptions with the Right to Health under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
NMC Prescription Directive: Curriculum Inclusion and Rationale
The central focus of the NMC prescription directive is to integrate teaching about clear and legible prescribing practices into medical education. All medical colleges are now required to revise their curriculum to emphasise the importance of writing prescriptions in a manner that can be easily understood by pharmacists and patients alike. Previously, illegible prescriptions were widely criticised for leading to medication errors, patient safety issues, and miscommunication between healthcare professionals. The NMC now seeks to systematically eliminate such risks by training future doctors early in their careers.
Mandatory Prescription Monitoring Committees in Medical Colleges
Alongside curriculum changes, the NMC has mandated that every medical college set up a Sub-Committee under the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) to monitor prescription practices on campus. Before reviewing committee functions, it’s important to note that consistent appraisal of prescriptions if built into institutional governance can help identify deviations from standards, analyse trends, and recommend corrective actions. Such oversight is designed to improve prescribing behaviour among both students and practising doctors.
Generic Drug Prescribing and Rational Use
The NMC has also reiterated that physicians should write prescriptions using generic names of drugs whenever possible and that legibility should be prioritised preferably in capital letters to avoid misinterpretation by pharmacists. Generic prescribing supports rational drug use, promotes affordability, and can reduce patient treatment costs. Training students in this principle during medical education can lead to improved prescribing habits throughout their careers.
Impact on Medical Education and Patient Safety
Medical educators and healthcare professionals have welcomed the directive as a practical enhancement to clinical training. By embedding prescription clarity into curriculum and evaluation, the NMC aims to significantly reduce risks associated with unreadable medical orders. Overall, the directive reinforces patient safety norms and aligns medical education with ethical, regulatory, and legal expectations.
