Thiruvananthapuram: In a major move, the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) in association with the Health Department is planning to put in place a system known as “prescription audit” in all government hospitals to ensure that doctors do not prescribe expensive medicines when free and cheaper drugs with the same formulations are available under various schemes.
The step is aimed at breaking the unholy nexus between a section of doctors and pharmaceutical companies at the cost of patients. Once the system is implemented, one copy of the prescription slip will be handed over to the patient and the other will be kept as part of the hospital records which could be randomly audited by experts at any time.
“We are planning to put in place prescription audit system which will curb all wrong practices. At the moment, the government is spending close to Rs 300 crore for free generic medicines which are being supplied in 1,415 government hospitals, including medical colleges and district hospitals. Prescription audit will bring accountability and transparency in the system,’’ said KMSCL MD R. Kamlahar.
Once the system comes into effect, doctors posted in government hospitals, including medical colleges, general hospitals, taluk hospitals and community health centres, will have to prescribe the generic medicines supplied by the KMSCL.
At present, KMSCL is providing over 700 free generic drugs categorised under the Essential Drugs List (EDL) and Rationalised Drugs List (RDL) to the government hospitals. The scheme was launched by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi last month.
