Image for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: Getty Images
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical schools to set up sub-committees to monitor prescribing practice and also to embed the importance of writing legible and clear prescriptions into the curriculum.
In a communication sent on December 15 to secretaries and principal secretaries of health ministries of all states and union territories and directors and deans of all health facilities under it, the NMC said the directive is based on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court issued on August 27.
According to the court orders, the NMC is required to ensure that the importance of legible and clear handwriting in medical prescriptions is included and reinforced in the curriculum of all medical colleges and institutions in India.
The court stated that a legible medical prescription or document is a basic part of the right to health according to Article 21 of the Constitution.
She further referred to the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 and the MCI notification dated September 21, 2016, all of which mandate that every doctor must write prescriptions legibly and preferably in capital letters.
Reference is also made to the Clinical Facilities (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010 and the corresponding Electronic Health Records Rules, emphasizing the need for readability and clarity of health records.
The NMC noted the need for enhanced and structured monitoring of prescribing practice across all medical schools in line with current regulations.
“Therefore, each medical school will establish a special subcommittee within the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) to monitor prescriptions and ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and ethical standards,” the statement said.
The subcommittee will develop a structured plan for systematic review of regulations to assess compliance with applicable regulations and guidelines.
It will review and analyze prescribing patterns, identify deviations and recommend corrective actions to improve adherence and ensure that the findings of each assessment are recorded in the minutes of DTC meetings and make these records available to the NMC.
Common names
In its communication, the commission further reminded medical faculties that according to current regulations, “every doctor should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and pay attention to the rational prescribing and use of drugs.” Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory, the NMC said.
“All institutions are directed to immediately constitute a sub-committee and without delay put in place the prescribed monitoring mechanisms,” it said.
Published – 17 Dec 2025 21:21 IST
