Govt to store all patient prescriptions digitally; hospitals to access records with a single click

The state Health Department is preparing to introduce a new Prescription Audit Software that will digitally store patient treatment records, prescriptions and hospitalization details on a centralized platform. Under the system, authorized hospitals and doctors will be able to access a patient's medical history, prescribed medicines and treatment records with a single click. Preliminary training has already been completed, and the software will initially be launched on a trial basis in selected government hospitals.

Ten government hospitals participated in the first phase of training for the new system. Among the hospitals included in the pilot phase are Bhatpara State General Hospital, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Durgapur Sub-Divisional Hospital and Suri Sadar Hospital. Officials from these institutions recently attended training sessions at the Health Department headquarters, while additional hospitals are expected to be included in subsequent phases.

Under the digital platform, prescriptions will be uploaded and stored on a centralized database. The software will enable authorized users to access information including the duration of a patient's hospitalization, antibiotics prescribed, other medicines administered, treatment history and follow-up records. Health officials said the system is expected to improve record accessibility and support monitoring of antibiotic usage.

The initiative will also eliminate the need for patients to carry extensive medical files during follow-up visits. Each patient will receive a unique identification number linked to their medical records. Doctors will be able to retrieve complete treatment histories by entering the patient's ID, allowing access to previous prescriptions and medical information. Public health experts noted that the system could particularly benefit patients travelling from remote areas where carrying physical documents is often difficult.

Health Department officials said the software is also intended to improve transparency and record-keeping across government hospitals. The platform will provide information on prescribed medicines and hospitalization periods while supporting broader monitoring initiatives related to hospital services. Officials also stated that the system is expected to address longstanding concerns regarding illegible handwriting, excessive use of brand names, missing diagnoses and incomplete clinical information in prescriptions by creating a standardized digital record of patient care.