An Indian court has ordered doctors to abandon scribbled prescriptions and either write clearly in capital letters or switch to digital formats, citing patient safety.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued the directive after a judge found a medico-legal report “incomprehensible,” saying not even a single word or letter was legible.
The court recommended that handwriting training be included in medical school curricula and urged the government to mandate digital prescriptions within two years.
Health experts say unclear handwriting has long been a problem in India, leading to dangerous medication errors. The Indian Medical Association welcomed the ruling, noting that while many urban doctors already use digital tools, handwritten prescriptions remain common in rural and high-volume settings. (Newswire)