Write Prescriptions in Hindi, Speak to Patients in Mother Tongue: UP’s Brajesh Pathak to Doctors

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak has appealed to doctors to write the names of medicines and medical tests in Hindi or the Devanagari script on prescriptions. He also urged doctors to communicate with patients in their mother tongue and local languages, including Bhojpuri and Awadhi. Pathak said the use of Indian languages in healthcare could help patients understand medical advice and treatment instructions more clearly and strengthen communication between doctors and patients.

Brajesh Pathak Appeals for Hindi on Medicine Prescriptions

In an appeal to the medical community, Pathak said doctors should write medicine and diagnostic test names in Hindi or Devanagari so that patients can understand what has been prescribed to them. He said patients should be able to clearly identify the medicines they are being asked to take. Pathak also said he would personally prefer medicines whose names are written in Hindi.The appeal was made by Pathak in his capacity as Uttar Pradesh's  Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, as well as in his personal capacity as a supporter of Hindi and Indian languages. Job Aspirants, ASHA Workers, COVID Staff Protest at UP Dy CM Brajesh Pathak's Lucknow Residence.

Doctors Asked to Communicate in Patients' Mother Tongue

Pathak also called on doctors to communicate with patients in their mother tongue and local dialects wherever possible. He specifically referred to languages such as Bhojpuri and Awadhi, saying that communication in a language familiar to patients could make it easier for them to understand doctors' advice and treatment-related information. According to Pathak, treatment is not limited to prescribing medicines. Understanding a doctor's instructions and developing trust between the patient and doctor are also important parts of healthcare.

Focus on Indian Languages in Healthcare

Pathak linked the appeal to the wider use of Indian languages in public life. He said strengthening Hindi and other Indian languages would also contribute to communication between healthcare providers and the public. He referred to the views of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on Indian languages and urged doctors to encourage the use of local and Indian languages in the medical sector. Pathak also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's use of Hindi and other Indian languages while interacting with people abroad as an example of promoting Indian-language communication.

Aim to Reduce Doctor-Patient Communication Gap

The Uttar Pradesh minister said greater use of languages familiar to patients could reduce the communication gap between medical professionals and ordinary citizens. The proposal particularly focuses on making prescriptions and medical conversations easier for patients to understand. However, the available reports describe Pathak's statement as an appeal to doctors rather than a new mandatory prescription rule or government notification.

The emphasis on clearer communication comes amid broader discussions around accessibility and patient understanding in healthcare, where patients need to correctly follow instructions regarding medicines, tests and treatment.