Follow prescription audit norms or face action: DHSK to CMOs

Srinagar, Feb 02: The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir Thursday instructed Chief Medical Officers and Medical Superintendents of hospitals to follow prescription audit norms and warned them of disciplinary action.
In Jan 2022, the DHSK issued an order through which it directed CMOs, Medical Superintendents to nominate one Nodal Officer for District Hospital and Sub-District Hospital of their respective districts, who shall collect photocopies of at least 1 percent of prescriptions on random daily basis written by the government doctors in OPDs.
However, officials said even after passing of one year the order hasn’t been complied by CMOs and Medical Superintendents which has been viewed seriously by Director Health Services Kashmir.
In that order they were also instructed to constitute a district-level Prescription Audit Committee (PAC) comprising of doctors on administrative posts, excluding the consultants with the terms of reference.
However, on Thursday the directorate issued a fresh circular in which it mentioned that the circular instructions are not being complied by the CMOs and Medical Superintendents.
“The Medical Superintendent/Administrator of the concerned hospital shall be personally responsible for coordination and proper implementation of these circular instructions and shall submit a preliminary compliance report on this within a week positively from the date of issuance of this circular,” said the circular issued by the DHSK.
It said that if any Medical Superintendent/Administrator is found deviating from the instructions this time, action will be initiated against them without any further notice.
The circular has also mentioned the terms of reference for the Prescription Audit Committee. It said the prescriptions collected by Nodal Officers be scrutinized by the PAC.
“The PAC should check whether the prescriptions are legibly written in the capital letters with name of the doctor, his/her signature and registration number,” it said.
The circular also mentioned that generic drugs are prescribed in hospitals and preference is given to the drugs, which are available free in hospital supplies.
“Unnecessary diagnostic tests/procedures are prescribed and patients are referred to the private clinics/specialists without requirement. Drugs are prescribed in contravention to the provision of Drugs & Cosmetic Act & Regulations,” it said.
The circular directed that the PACs shall prepare and submit fortnightly reports to the directorate.
“The divisional Prescription Audit Committee, which is already constituted, shall prepare a comprehensive monthly report along with their recommendations, highlighting actionable points that shall be submitted to the Administrative Department,” the circular said.