DO's and Don'ts for Medical Officials

DO's AND DON'Ts FOR MEDICAL OFFICIALS

DO's
Be cautious that spurious drugs are not purchased.

Always check the expiry date before purchasing any medicine.

Ensure maintenance of stock registers for medicines, consumables etc. and make periodical check of the same.

Take advance action to dispose of medicines that are due to expire.

If there are no written instructions or procedural guidelines about various types of work/functions to be performed in your unit and the same are being carried out as per certain practices, it would be desirable to make a humble beginning to streamline those through written procedures. Display procedure in writing in the work place e.g. First-aid procedures, anesthetic checks etc.

Keep record of medicines, equipments & other hospital related assets/ consumables.

Do conduct periodical check of the stores for medicines, equipments on regular basis.

Always follow the prescribed procedure for procurement of medicines and record justification for arriving at rate reasonability.

Do visit the patient referred to outside hospital for specialized treatment. This will generate confidence in the concerned employee and will also be a check on the line of treatment of the hospital authorities, besides any possible hefty hospital bills.

Do insist on scrutiny of the hospital bills before the same are processed for payment. This will not only add to your knowledge, but will also provide you an opportunity to put a check on any exaggerated bills/claims.

DON'Ts
Avoid excess procurement of medicines.

Do not use medicines after expiry dates.

Do not issue medicines to private patients.

Do not issue false medical certificates.

Do not associate yourself with private nursing homes in any manner.

Do not accept gifts from any suppliers.

Avoid procurement of medicines with short expiry dates.

Avoid local purchase at exorbitant rates on grounds of emergency.

Do not recommend false medical reimbursement claims for payment.

- By Jayant Kumar, Dy. CVO/M/NR