Doctor Prescription Format in India: What Must Be on It (With a Free Sample)

Quick answer: a prescription in India should carry the doctor's name, qualification and registration number, the patient's name, address, age and sex, the date, each medicine with its strength, dose, how often, for how long and the total quantity, and the doctor's signature. Drug names should be generic, written legibly — and since August 2025, handwritten prescriptions in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh must be in capital letters until digital prescriptions are in place.

This guide explains what the rules actually say, gives you a ready sample format, and lists the mistakes that send patients back from the chemist.

What the law actually requires

There is no single "official prescription pad" in India. The requirements come from three places.

1. The Drugs Rules, 1945 — Rule 65(10)

When a chemist dispenses a prescription medicine, the prescription must:

• be in writing, signed by the doctor with their usual signature, and dated
• give the name and address of the patient
• state the total amount of medicine to be supplied and the dose to be taken

For Schedule H and H1 medicines, the chemist may dispense only once unless you write on the prescription that it can be repeated, and how many times. So if a patient on long-term medicine should get refills, say so clearly.

2. The medical council's code of conduct

The National Medical Commission (NMC) published new conduct regulations in August 2023, then put them on hold the same month. Until it notifies otherwise, NMC applies the older Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. These clauses matter for prescriptions:

• Registration number (clause 1.4.1): doctors must show the registration number given by their State Medical Council on their clinic board and on all prescriptions, certificates and receipts.
• What the pad may show (clause 7.13): your name, qualifications from a university or statutory body, titles, speciality and registration number with the name of your State Medical Council — the same contents as your signboard. Photographs and other publicity material on the letterhead are treated as self-advertisement (clause 6.1.2).
• Generic names (clause 1.5): every doctor should prescribe drugs with generic names, legibly and preferably in capital letters, and ensure rational prescribing.

3. The 2025 legibility order

On 27 August 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (Yogesh vs State of Haryana) held that a readable prescription is part of the patient's right to health under Article 21. It directed doctors in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to write prescriptions in capital letters until digital or typed prescriptions are in place. NMC then asked medical colleges across India to set up committees that monitor prescription legibility and generic prescribing.

Even outside those states, the direction is clear: a prescription the chemist cannot read is a patient-safety risk.

The parts of a prescription, top to bottom

Section	What to include
Header	Doctor's full name, qualifications (MBBS first), registration number with the council's name, hospital or clinic name, address, phone and OPD timings
Patient	Name, age, sex, address or phone, and a patient ID if your clinic uses one
Date	Date of the visit — and the date matters for repeat dispensing
Clinical notes (optional)	Main complaints, vitals (BP, pulse, temperature, weight) and diagnosis
Rx — medicines	For each: generic name (brand optional), strength, form, dose, frequency, timing, duration and total quantity
Advice	Diet, rest, tests ordered, warning signs to come back for
Follow-up	When to return, and what to bring
Sign-off	Signature, name and registration number again under the signature

Sample prescription format

You can copy this layout for a printed letterhead or a word-processor template.

Dr. A. Sharma, MBBS, MD (Medicine)
Reg. No. 12345 — Punjab Medical Council
City Care Hospital, Mall Road, Ludhiana · 98765 43210
OPD: Mon–Sat, 10 am – 2 pm

Patient: Ramesh Kumar      Age/Sex: 45 / M      Date: 10 Oct 2026
Address/Phone: Ludhiana, 98xxxxxx10        Patient ID: CCH-000042

Complaints: Fever and body ache for 2 days
Vitals: BP 128/82 · Pulse 92 · Temp 101°F · Wt 72 kg
Diagnosis: Viral fever

Rx
1. PARACETAMOL 650 MG TABLET
   1 tablet, three times a day (1-1-1), after food, for 3 days — Total: 9
2. CETIRIZINE 10 MG TABLET
   1 tablet at night (0-0-1), for 5 days — Total: 5

Advice: Plenty of fluids, rest. Come back if fever stays above 102°F
        or lasts beyond 3 days.
Follow-up: After 4 days, with CBC report.

                                    (Signature)
                                    Dr. A. Sharma
                                    Reg. No. 12345

Names, numbers and medicines above are only an example of the layout, not treatment advice.

How to write dose and timing so patients understand

The 1-0-1 style (morning–afternoon–night) is widely understood in India and is clearer for patients than Latin abbreviations. If you do use abbreviations, these are the common ones:

Abbreviation	Meaning
OD	Once a day
BD	Twice a day
TDS	Three times a day
QID	Four times a day
HS	At bedtime
SOS	Only when needed
AC / PC	Before food / after food

Two habits prevent most dispensing errors:

• Always write the duration and total quantity. "Paracetamol 650, 1-1-1" without "for 3 days — 9 tablets" leaves the chemist guessing.
• Write timing in words for elderly patients — "after breakfast and after dinner" is harder to misread than "BD PC".

Prescriptions in Hindi or the patient's own language

Many patients follow instructions better when the dose and advice are in their own language. A common, practical approach is to keep the medicine name and strength in their standard form (so any chemist recognises them) and write the dose, timing, duration and advice in Hindi or the local language — for example "खाने के बाद, दिन में 3 बार, 3 दिन".

Common mistakes that cause trouble at the chemist

1. Illegible handwriting — the single biggest problem, and now a legal issue in some states.
2. No registration number on the pad, or an old number after a council change.
3. Missing date or signature — the chemist cannot legally dispense prescription medicines without them.
4. Strength not written — "Metformin" alone could mean 500 mg or 1000 mg.
5. No duration or quantity, so the patient buys too much or too little.
6. Repeat medicines without a repeat instruction, so the chemist refuses to dispense a second time.

Handwritten or printed?

A handwritten prescription is still valid if it meets the rules above. But a printed or digital prescription solves most of the problems in one go: it is always legible, the doctor's details and registration number are printed every time, and the clinic keeps an exact copy.

How OPDly helps: in OPDly, the doctor picks medicines from a list, and the prescription prints on the hospital's letterhead with the doctor's registration number, signature, dose, timing and duration — in English, Hindi or Marathi — and can show the generic name under each brand. The patient can receive it on WhatsApp, and the hospital keeps every visit on record. Doctors who prefer paper can keep writing by hand while reception runs the queue and billing in OPDly. For sick leave and fitness letters, see our medical certificate format guide. Start a free 30-day trial or see how consultation works.

Frequently asked questions

Is a handwritten prescription legally valid in India?

Yes, as long as it is in writing, signed and dated by the doctor, and gives the patient's name and address and the dose and total quantity, as Rule 65(10) of the Drugs Rules requires. In Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, handwritten prescriptions must also be in capital letters under the 2025 High Court order.

Is it compulsory to write the registration number on a prescription?

Yes. Under the medical council's conduct regulations (clause 1.4.1), doctors must display their State Medical Council registration number on all prescriptions, certificates and receipts.

Do doctors have to prescribe only generic names?

The regulations say doctors should prescribe with generic names, legibly and preferably in capital letters. NMC's 2023 rule making generic-only prescribing mandatory was put on hold in August 2023. Writing the generic name, with the brand alongside if you want, meets the requirement and helps the chemist.

What size should a prescription pad be?

There is no legal size. A5 is the most common for clinics because it fits a folder and a standard printer tray; A4 works well when the prescription includes clinical notes and investigations.

Can a prescription be written in Hindi?

We are not aware of any national rule that requires English. Keep medicine names and strengths in their standard form so any chemist can read them, and write the dose, timing and advice in the language the patient understands best.

Does a prescription need the patient's address?

Rule 65(10) asks for the name and address of the patient. Many clinics print the phone number and a patient ID as well, which also makes it easier to find the patient's record on a follow-up visit.

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This guide is general information for doctors and clinic owners, not legal advice. Rules can differ by state — check with your State Medical Council for anything specific to your practice. Last updated 10 October 2026.

Sources: Drugs Rules, 1945, Rule 65(10)–(11) · Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, clauses 1.4.1, 1.5 and 7.13 · NMC notification of August 2023 placing the 2023 RMP Regulations in abeyance · Punjab and Haryana High Court, Yogesh vs State of Haryana, order dated 27 August 2025 · NMC letter to medical colleges on prescription monitoring.