New Delhi, December 16, 2025: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued directives to all medical colleges and institutions across India dated 15 December, 2025, to establish a dedicated sub-committee under the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) for monitoring prescription practices and inclusion of importance of legible and clear handwriting.
This directive follows the order dated August 27, 2025, by the Hon'ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana in the matter of Yogesh vs. State of Haryana (CRM-M-30305-2024). The Court observed that a legible medical prescription is an essential component of the Right to Health under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The NMC has mandated the inclusion and reinforcement of the importance of legible and clear handwriting in medical prescriptions in the curriculum of all medical colleges and institutions in India. This emphasis on legibility must be incorporated into medical education programs across the country.
The Court's order referenced several key provisions:
National Medical Commission Act, 2019
Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002
MCI Notification dated September 21, 2016
All these provisions mandate that every medical practitioner must write prescriptions legibly and preferably in capital letters.
Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 emphasize the need for legibility and clarity in medical documentation, also referred under the provisions.
The newly constituted sub-committee under the DTC shall undertake the following responsibilities as per the issue:
Develop a structured plan for systematic appraisal of prescriptions to assess compliance with applicable regulations and guidelines.
Review and analyze prescription patterns, identify deviations, and recommend corrective measures for improving adherence.
Ensure that the findings of each appraisal are recorded in the minutes of the DTC meetings.
Make such records available to the National Medical Commission whenever called for.
Ensure timely implementation of all recommended measures to enhance compliance with the Court order.
The NMC has suggested that as per prevailing regulations, every physician must prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters, ensuring rational prescription and use of drugs.
All medical institutions have been instructed to constitute the sub-committee immediately and operationalize the prescribed monitoring mechanisms without delay.
(Rh/VK/MSM)
