A recent study conducted by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, has revealed a concerning trend. It highlighted that one in every two prescriptions deviate from the standard guidelines. The findings were made after a comprehensive analysis of 4,838 prescriptions issued between August 2019 and August 2020. It highlighted the potential risks for patients, including unnecessary medication, increased treatment costs, and possible adverse drug reactions.

While the trend can be concerning and lead to severe complications, Times Now Digital spoke to experts to understand this better.

Dr Manjusha Agarwal, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine Gleneagles Hospitals, said, "This deviation can burden the healthcare system. So, non-adherence to guidelines causes misuse of drugs due to which the patient can encounter severe problems, treatment failure, longer recovery time, frequent hospitalizations, and increased mortality and morbidity rates. Patients will be confused regarding the treatment plan and may leave the treatment halfway, suffer in silence, and may lose their precious lives."

She further added that if one fails to use the correct drugs then he/she may encounter drug reactions that can be life-threatening. "The common symptoms are breathlessness, abdominal distress, hypotension, anaphylaxis is a rare dysfunction of the body systems. Upper or lower airway edema or itching and rash are also seen in people," Dr Manjusha said.

A surge in Antimicrobial resistance

Currently, there is also an increase in the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The majority of people are using inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions that are causing a surge in AMR cases which is becoming a growing concern in the country. AMR is difficult to address due to the morbidity and mortality, prolonged illnesses, and more expensive treatment options involved with it. AMR needs a hands-on approach. Unnecessary prescribing medications can cause bloating, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation which can lead to extreme weakness over time.

"This can also cause medication errors, and compromised patient care, requiring urgent need for improved adherence to standard protocols among experts. Hence, both experts and patients should be vigilant and adhere to the guidelines without fail to ensure safe and effective treatment with a successful prognosis of the condition," Dr Manjusha added.

The 'Do No Harm' principle

Despite a surge in prescription deviations, Dr Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Zandra Healthcare said that every doctor in India is dedicated to the principle of "Do No Harm."

"Guideline-Directed Management Therapy (GDMT) has significantly advanced and structured treatments in various specialities, such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, nephrology, and oncology have seen a surge. Many of us strive to apply these guidelines to our practice; however, we sometimes face challenges related to accessibility, availability of reliable patient history, and comprehensive data," Dr Rajiv said.

In order to improve the personalized management, a centralized health record system for each individual, similar to the centralized accounts on the IT portal, would be highly beneficial. This system would provide doctors with complete patient histories, allowing for more accurate and effective treatment plans.