Sassoon hospital bans doctors from prescribing outside medicines 

Pune : Officials from Sassoon General hospital have issued a warning to doctors against prescribing outside drugs to patients, effective from Monday. Any doctor found violating this policy will face strict action, according to hospital officials.

This decision was made after some doctors were found prescribing patients or their families to purchase medicines and other medical supplies from outside pharmacies, resulting in financial strain for many low-income patients.

Dr. Sanjiv Thakur, the dean of BJ Medical College and Sassoon hospital, said that the practice of directing patients to buy medicines outside the hospital was widespread not just at Sassoon but also at other government hospitals in Maharashtra. 

The hospital has made adequate arrangements to stock 255 essential drugs and 480 more commonly prescribed drugs so that patients can obtain them directly from the hospital. The doctors and heads of departments have been informed about the availability of drugs required for treatment and have been instructed not to prescribe outside medicines. Anyone found violating this policy will face disciplinary action.

 Exceptions will only be made in rare and genuine cases, according to officials.