Doctors across Maharashtra are in a conundrum: they don't know which 'prescription' to follow after two governing bodies asked them to use entirely varying 'prescription' formats. To clear the confusion, members of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the Maharashtra Medical Council and doctors' association will meet soon to decide which format the state's doctors should follow.
In January, the Medical Council of India (MCI) had asked respective state medical councils to tell their doctors to follow a standard format for prescribing medicines. The minimum size of the prescription blank, the MCI said, should be (a) 14x21cm (AS size) and (b) XI x XI cm size. The state medical council had uploaded this new format issued by MCI on their website and also communicated the same to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), an umbrella body of medical professionals, asking them to follow the prescribed format.
Before the MCI's notification, however, the FDA had issued its own format for prescriptions. Most doctors' association in the state were opposed to the FDA's format. The existence of multiple formats has led to confusion over which one is to be followed. "There is confusion among doctors because of two different format. The format issued by MCI is what we have uploaded on our website," admitted Dr Jayesh Lele, president-elect of the Indian Medical Association.
As per rules, it's mandatory for all allopathy doctors to follow the new format — which is comprehensive. It has the doctor's full name, his/her qualification, the patient's details, name of the generic medicine or its equivalent along with dosage, strength, dosage form and instruction, name and address of a medical store with the pharmacist's name and date of dispensing. It also has to have the doctor's signature and stamp.
Dr Lele said that most doctors are unaware that there is such a format and that it is mandatory for doctors to follow it. "The FDA should create awareness about it. We doctors are ready to follow a standard format of prescribing medicines to patients," he said.
FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamable told dna that the confusion will die down when the officials meet. "Subsequently, all doctors will follow a standard format for prescribing medicines," he said.
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