The Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Haryana, has issued instructions requiring all registered medical practitioners in government and private hospitals, clinics, and health centres across the state to write prescriptions and medical diagnoses in capital or bold letters.
The directive follows a ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which emphasized that legible prescriptions are an important part of a patient’s right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court observed that clear and readable handwriting is essential to avoid errors in medication, dosage, and treatment. The judgement came after a case where a medico-legal report in a rape matter could not be understood due to illegible handwriting.
In response, the Haryana Health Department has made it mandatory for doctors to write only in capital or bold letters until computer-generated or typed prescriptions become more widely adopted. Pharmacies have also been instructed to reject prescriptions that do not meet the new requirements.
The Health Department has indicated that workshops will be organized for doctors and pharmacists to standardize prescription writing practices. It is also considering expanding the use of e-prescriptions, with pilot projects already underway in certain districts. The initiative aims to improve clarity in medical documentation and enhance patient safety across the state.