LUCKNOW, Nov. 10 -- The Uttar Pradesh health department has directed all government doctors not to prescribe medicines that require patients to buy from outside stores. Any violation of this directive could lead to disciplinary action, according to an order issued by additional chief secretary (health) Amit K Ghosh. The state government supplies over 200 types of medicines through the Uttar Pradesh Medical Supply Corporation for use in hospitals. Doctors have been instructed to prescribe only from these available stocks. UP has 108 district hospitals, over 900 community health centres, and around 3,000 primary health centres where the new rule will be enforced. Hospital in-charges have been told to inform patients publicly that they can file complaints if asked to purchase medicines externally. If a doctor issues a prescription on plain paper or directs a patient to an outside pharmacy, it will be treated as a violation. Complaints can be made to the hospital in-charge, and if no action follows, escalated to the director general of medical health. To ensure strict implementation, the health department will conduct surprise inspections across hospitals and health centres starting the third week of November. The inspection teams will be formed at the state level....