New Delhi: A new directive from the Union Health Ministry has asked doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to write prescriptions in Hindi “wherever possible” which is a move meant to make medical communication more accessible, but one that’s triggered strong resistance from the medical community.
Doctors say the decision, while well-intentioned, could end up doing more harm than good.
AIIMS Delhi, which treats nearly 15,000–18,000 patients every day, most of them from rural areas, as per AIIMS OPD statistics reported in The Hindu (May 2024),¹ has been instructed to promote the use of Hindi in prescriptions, patient records, and official documents. The Health Ministry has also encouraged translating medical textbooks, conducting research in Hindi, and creating bilingual materials like letterheads and visiting cards.
While Hindi use is technically optional, the directive suggests that doctors should prefer it whenever possible, using standardized medical terms provided by the Central Hindi Directorate.
Medical professionals across India are calling the move “misguided” and “risky.”
Dr. Avneesh Ojha, co-founder of UPCHAAR and Vice President of IMA, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Forcing AIIMS doctors to prescribe in Hindi? Absurd! International textbooks: ENGLISH ONLY. MP’s Hindi MBBS books already flopped — zero takers. Don’t risk lives for linguistic ego!”
These were the Hindi-translated medical textbooks introduced in 2022 in Madhya Pradesh, which failed to gain traction among students due to translation inconsistencies and usability issues.
Neurologist Dr. Bhupesh Kumar M echoed the sentiment in a viral LinkedIn post that’s since sparked nationwide debate.
“Medicine doesn’t speak Hindi; it speaks science,” he wrote. “Replacing standard global medical terminology with translations like ‘एटोरवास्टेटिन’ (atorvastatin) isn’t empowerment, it’s confusion. It risks pharmacist errors, delays care, and compromises patient safety, all for optics.”
He went on to question, “What’s next? MRI reports in Sanskrit? EEG findings in Bhojpuri?”
For Dr. Bhupesh and many others, medicine is a universal language. “Our textbooks, journals, and conferences all operate in English. The language of life-saving cannot be reduced to a political gimmick for optics,” he added.
The Health Ministry maintains that the move is not mandatory but aims to make healthcare more inclusive for non-English-speaking patients, especially those from rural areas. Officials say responses to official letters and some research outputs may also be encouraged in Hindi.
The ministry insists that using Hindi can bridge communication gaps and honor India’s linguistic diversity without undermining medical accuracy.
Supporters argue that writing prescriptions in Hindi could help rural and elderly patients better understand their treatment plans. But critics fear it could disrupt the precision of global medical practice, where English serves as the common professional language.
Many point to past failures, such as the Hindi-translated MBBS textbooks in Madhya Pradesh, which saw little uptake among students due to limited usability.
For now, the controversy continues to unfold, caught between accessibility and accuracy, national pride and patient safety.
As Dr. Bhupesh summarized, “If the goal is clarity, translate instructions, not science.”
(Rh/VK/MSM)
