Goa, Dec. 18 -- If you have ever struggled to decipher a doctor's prescription, you are far from alone. Illegible handwriting on medical prescriptions has long caused confusion among patients, pharmacists and even healthcare professionals, at times leading to serious medical errors. Addressing this persistent issue, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a nationwide directive instructing doctors to ensure that all prescriptions are written in clear and legible handwriting.

The move comes amid rising concerns from courts and health authorities over medication errors linked to unclear prescriptions. Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took a stern stance on the matter, observing that unreadable prescriptions can result i...