Srinagar, Mar 03 (KNO): The Directorate of Health Services Jammu (DHSJ) has instructed all the government hospital doctors to strictly follow prescription guidelines in their respective institutions.
This decision as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) comes in response to widespread non-compliance with prescription norms in public hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir, which has resulted in excessive medication and increased out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
“It is enjoined upon all the Chief Medical Officers and Medical Superintendents of various Govt. Hospitals of Health Department Jammu Division to adhere precisely the directives/guidelines in their respective Districts/Health Institutions,” reads a circular issued by DHSJ, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The directives as per circular includes that all the doctors to write the prescriptions of patients in capital form so that the patients should know what the drugs they are prescribed so that patients may not take any wrong medicine in order to implement the new Drug Policy, every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters following the provisions/guidelines of Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 and there must be participation of the patients in decisions involving his/her health care.
“Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and compulsory in capital letters, The Doctors should write prescription in capital letters legibly throughout J&K UT, The Doctors should write on prescription the disease of patient and prescribed medicines legibly and specific information of patients as drugs and The DOCTORS/TECHNICANS should write Medico-legal reports in capital letters legible in whole UT of Jammu and Kashmir,” reads the circular—(KNO)