Odisha to launch digital prescription app to monitor antibiotic use

The Odisha government is preparing to launch a digital prescription application to strengthen the state’s healthcare ecosystem. Integrated under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the initiative will utilize features from Aarogya Setu 2.0, including a ‘Scan and Share’ function and digital lockers for storing medical records.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that the system aims to improve transparency and accessibility by allowing patients to maintain comprehensive digital health histories. A primary goal of the digital transition is to combat antimicrobial resistance by monitoring the use of antibiotics. By creating a digital trail of prescriptions, authorities can track which medicines are being prescribed and how frequently, helping to reduce the irrational or unnecessary use of antibiotics for common ailments.

The upcoming platform is expected to encourage doctors to adopt digital workflows, increasing accountability and enabling more informed clinical decisions through instant access to prior treatment records.