New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has ordered all medical colleges across the country to constitute sub-committees to monitor prescription practices and to teach the importance of clear, legible prescriptions as part of the medical curriculum.

In a December 15 communication to health secretaries of all states and Union territories, as well as directors and deans of medical institutions, the NMC said the move follows an August 27 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court had directed the commission 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 high court observed that a legible medical prescription or document is an essential component of the Right to Health under Article 21 of the Constitution. It also referred to the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, and a 2016 MCI notification, all of which mandate that doctors must write prescriptions clearly and preferably in capital letters. The order further cited the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 and rules on electronic health records to stress the need for clarity in medical documentation.

“The Hon’ble Court has observed that a legible medical prescription/document is an essential component of the Right to Health under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the NMC noted in its circular. It said there was a need for “strengthened and structured monitoring” of prescription practices across all medical colleges in line with current regulations.

“Therefore, every medical college shall establish a dedicated Sub-Committee, under the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC), for monitoring prescriptions and ensuring compliance with the statutory, regulatory, and ethical standards,” the communication said. These sub-committees will develop a structured plan for systematic appraisal of prescriptions, review and analyse prescribing patterns, identify deviations and recommend corrective measures for better adherence, and record their findings in the minutes of DTC meetings for submission to the NMC.

Reiterating existing rules, the commission reminded institutions that “every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters, and he/she shall ensure rational prescription and use of drugs.” Compliance with these directions is mandatory; it is underlined. “All institutions are instructed to constitute the sub-committee immediately, and operationalise the prescribed monitoring mechanisms without delay,” the NMC added.