Medicines prescribed 5 years ago are being repeated; 'Repeat All' option in prescription unnecessary

Kottayam: The Health Department has instructed District Medical Officers (DMOs) to clarify their stance on doctors writing “Repeat all” on prescriptions for patients who use medicines regularly. This comes in the wake of reports that some allopathic medicines are being misused as drugs, forcing discussions among healthcare workers.

Pharmacists brought this issue to the attention of the health department, pointing out the risks involved when doctors write "Repeat All" on prescriptions without specifying the names of the medicines. The Kerala Government Pharmacists Association had sent a letter to the Director of the Health Department requesting that such doctors must be given awareness to follow proper prescription practices.

Patients undergoing extreme care and those with lifestyle diseases, and those enrolled in the Community Mental Health Program are often prescribed the same medicines on a monthly basis. These patients are also provided with a booklet to record their medicines. During their monthly visits, doctors usually enquire about changes in the patient’s condition. If the answer is “no,” the doctor simply writes “Repeat All” referring to the earlier prescriptions. It is then up to the pharmacist to flip through the pages and identify the medicines to be given. The association stated that even prescriptions written five years ago are being repeated in this manner.

Due to the delay in dispensing the medicines and the risk of giving incorrect medicines, the District Prescription Audit Committee chaired by the Pathanamthitta DMO had issued a directive last month urging doctors to avoid using “Repeat All.”

During the COVID-19 period, many patients purchased medicines directly from pharmacies without seeing doctor or getting a new prescription. Since these were medicines they were regularly taking, they were issued without much concern. However, the Kerala Government Pharmacists Association alleged that this practice continued in many hospitals even after the COVID crisis has ended.

Proper way to write prescription

Dr MC Tomichen, retired RMO of Kottayam Medical College, stated that the correct procedure is to write the prescription clearly each and every time. He feels that prescriptions marked with “Repeat All” are vulnerable to misuse. He also said that pharmacists should remain vigilant when handling such notes.

Medicine names must be written out – IMA

Dr KA Sreevivas, State President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), also insists that the full name of each medicine should be written clearly on the prescription. This helps pharmacists avoid errors or confusion when giving medicines. He acknowledges that some doctors may write “Repeat All” due to time constraints, but that not all doctors follow this shortcut.