Prescriptions
Prescription lifecycle (Draft to Dispensed), medication details, special flags, digital signatures, and PDF generation.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions are created by doctors during or after a consultation. They follow a defined lifecycle and can include detailed medication instructions, digital signatures, and PDF generation.
Prescription Lifecycle
Status | What It Means | Who Can Act |
|---|---|---|
Draft | Prescription is being written. Medications can be added, edited, or removed. | Doctor |
Issued | Prescription is finalised and sent to the patient. No further edits allowed. | Doctor (issues it) |
Dispensed | Pharmacy has fulfilled the prescription. | Pharmacy staff |
Cancelled | Prescription was cancelled before dispensing. | Doctor |
Once a prescription is Issued, it becomes read-only. The patient receives a notification and can view/download the prescription PDF.
Draft vs Issued
Medication Details
Each medication line item in a prescription includes:
Field | What It Is | Example |
|---|---|---|
Drug Name | Brand or trade name | Crocin 500mg |
Generic Name | Chemical/generic name | Paracetamol |
Dosage | Amount per dose | 500mg, 1 tablet |
Dosage Form | Form of the medication | Tablet, Syrup, Injection, Capsule |
Frequency | How often to take | TDS (three times daily), BD (twice daily), OD (once daily) |
Frequency Description | Plain-language frequency for patient | Take one tablet three times a day after meals |
Route | How to administer | Oral, Topical, IV, IM |
Duration | How long to take it | 5 days, 2 weeks |
Duration (Days) | Numeric duration in days | 5, 14 |
Quantity | Total quantity to dispense | 15 tablets |
Instructions | Special instructions | Take after food, Avoid dairy |
Special Medication Flags
Flag | What It Means |
|---|---|
Substitutable | Pharmacist may substitute with a generic equivalent if the brand is unavailable |
SOS (As Needed) | Not a regular schedule — take only when symptoms appear (e.g. 'take for pain as needed') |
Digital Signature
Prescriptions support digital signatures. When enabled, the doctor's signature is attached to the prescription before issuing. The system tracks:
- Whether the prescription is digitally signed
- Signature data (image or digital certificate)
- Signature timestamp
Prescription PDF
When a prescription is issued, a PDF is generated using the hospital's configured template. The PDF includes the hospital header, doctor details, patient information, medication list, and signature.
Valid Until
Prescriptions can optionally have a valid until date. After this date, the prescription is considered expired and pharmacies should not dispense against it.
What's Next?
Learn about ordering and tracking lab tests in Diagnostics & Reports.
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