Subsequent to Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) issuing a standard prescription format recently for allopathic doctors in the state, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has recommended physicians to prescribe generic medicines in accordance with the prescription guidelines stipulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945.   

The standard prescription format has been made to boost an accurate, uniform, standard and clear prescription for the sake of patient safety. The new format, prepared by Medical Council of India (MCI), is applicable for all doctors who practice allopathy in the country.

The MCI format is a comprehensive one as it includes the doctor's full name, his/her qualification, patient's details, name of the generic medicine or its equivalent along with the dosage, strength, dosage form and instruction, name and address of medical store with pharmacist's name and date of dispensing, as well as the doctor's signature and stamp. Over 80,000 MMC-affiliated doctors are expected to start using the new format.

Maharashtra FDA had also released a model medicine prescription format on February 28, 2014  to address the compelling need for safe and efficacious supply of medicines for patient safety. The format was formally issued by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the presence of State FDA officials. Prepared in consultation with all the state councils of the country, the prescription format offered the physician to write generic medicines based on the efficacy, affordability and availability of drugs.

As per the new MCI prescription format, allopathic doctors must write prescriptions legibly and in capital letters as well as furnish a complete and detailed prescription. The physicians have to also mandatorily mention the patient's address and keep blank space in which the pharmacist can specify his/her address. The comprehensive format also includes the doctor's full name, his/her qualification, patient's details, name of the generic medicine or its equivalent along with the dosage, strength, dosage form and instruction, name and address of medical store with pharmacist's name and date of dispensing, as well as the doctor's signature and stamp.

The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 under Indian Medical Council Act 1956 under Code of Medical Ethics at 1.5 prescribes as “Every physician should as far as possible prescribe drugs with Generic names and he or she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and rational use of drugs”. Therefore, prescription shall bear the name of medicine as Generic Name. The name of medicine should be in Capital Letters in legible manner. If the prescriber is not sure about generic name he shall add following instructions on the prescription above her or his signature. “Or any other cheaper generic medicine as per choice of patient.”

Experts say that doctors in some countries, including the United States, print out prescriptions for the sake of clarity. In several countries, printed prescriptions are mandatory because they are not only legible, but also constitute a database of medication that the patient has taken over the years.

This is in consonance with the trend picking up for patients looking at online websites. An MMC official opines, "Online consulting is permissible but a standard prescription format will always offer authenticity and clarity in the form of doctor's stamp and signature."