How long to keep prescriptions depends on the type of record and the risk of a dispute. This is general information, not legal advice.
What the rules say
- Indoor patients: the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations 2002, regulation 1.3.1, ask doctors to keep indoor patient records for 3 years from the start of treatment.
- OPD prescriptions: there is no single national rule. Many doctors apply the same 3 years as a minimum.
- Specialty and state rules: some councils, specialties and schemes set their own periods. Check what applies to you.
When to keep records longer
- Children: a complaint can be raised years later, so many doctors keep records until well after the child becomes an adult.
- Possible medico-legal cases: keep everything until any dispute is fully settled.
- Long-term conditions: the history is clinically useful for as long as you treat the patient.
What a good record includes
- The prescription itself, with the date.
- The patient's details and the diagnosis or complaint.
- The doctor's name.
- A way to find and print it again when asked.
Why digital records help
- They survive floods, fire, pests and fading ink.
- You can find a patient's history in seconds.
- They can be backed up.
With Vaidya OS
Patient records and visit history stay in Vaidya OS and are not deleted if your plan lapses. You can also export your patient list to Excel for your own backup.