Odisha To Launch Digital Prescription App Arogya Setu 2.0, To Reduce Antibiotic Uses

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Odisha digital prescription app will be introduced under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
The system will digitally record prescriptions, including details of antibiotic use.
Patients will be able to access medication history through a secure digital record system.

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is preparing to introduce a digital prescription application aimed at tackling the growing problem of inappropriate antibiotic use and improving the way patients’ medication records are maintained.

The system will operate under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and is planned to be integrated with Arogya Setu 2.0. It will create a digital record of prescriptions, allowing doctors and patients to access relevant medication history during future consultations.

Health Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling said preparations for the programme are underway and that the digital prescription facility will be launched soon.

Odisha Digital Prescription App to Track Antibiotic Use

The proposed Odisha digital prescription app will create a digital trail covering key details of a patient’s prescription.

The record is expected to show which doctor prescribed a medicine, the prescribed duration and information about repeated antibiotic use. This could give doctors a clearer picture of a patient’s previous treatment before prescribing medicines again.

The system will also include a scan and share facility, allowing medication records to be accessed conveniently. Patient information will be stored through a secure digital locker.

Odisha Digital Prescription App Targets Antibiotic Misuse

The initiative comes against concerns over the unnecessary use of antibiotics for common conditions such as fever, cold and minor infections.

Antibiotics do not work against viral illnesses, and inappropriate use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. When bacteria become resistant to medicines designed to treat them, infections can become more difficult and expensive to manage.

The proposed digital trail could make prescription patterns easier to track while giving doctors access to previous treatment information.

Digital Records Could Improve Patient Care

The system is also expected to reduce dependence on paper prescriptions and fragmented medical histories.

A patient consulting different doctors could potentially share previous medication records instead of relying entirely on memory or carrying old prescriptions. This may help healthcare professionals make better-informed decisions about medicines.

For doctors, the system could also create greater transparency around antibiotic prescribing. Repeated or prolonged antibiotic prescriptions would become easier to identify when records are digitally connected.

The government expects the initiative to reduce irrational antibiotic use and limit avoidable medication-related risks.