During clinical postings, one thing I’ve started paying more attention to is how medicines are prescribed in real practice.
Prescribing isn’t just about selecting a drug for a diagnosis. It’s about making sure the therapy actually makes sense for that specific patient.
In wards, we often come across:
- medications continued without indication
- long prescriptions that haven’t been reviewed in months
- prolonged antibiotics or PPIs
- unnecessary supplements
- duplicate therapies
These things don’t always happen intentionally — they build up over time.
That’s why rational prescribing is important. It simply means using:
- the right drug
- at the right dose
- for the right duration
- with clear indication
Sometimes it also means reducing or stopping medicines, not adding more.
Even small checks during case reviews, like asking “Is this drug still needed?” — can improve safety, adherence, and overall outcomes.
As healthcare students and professionals, developing this habit early helps us think more clinically and responsibly.
MBH/PS