Rajyotsava special: This Mysuru doctor wrote prescriptions in Kannada

MYSURU: At a time when the demand to teach medicine in local languages is growing, a Mysuru-based private practitioner has received appreciation from his patients for using Kannada to write prescriptions of drugs on Kannada Rajyotsava.
Dr Raghunandana Shekarappa, an orthopaedic consultant at a private clinic in Bogadi, wrote prescription in Kannada. About 30 patients consulted him as outpatients and he prescribed medicines in Kannada. Usually, the prescription is written in English but Dr Raghunandana celebrated Rajyotsava in a unique way. He plans to continue the practice provided pharmacists are able to read and understand the names of the medicines written in Kannada.
Recently Home Minister Amit Shah too had expressed concern about facilitating residents to learn professional courses including medicine in Kannada.
Dr Raghunandana, who has been practising in Mysuru for a decade, said he is a Kannadiga and has no problem prescribing medicines in Kannada. He says he fluently wrote the names of medicines. His efforts were appreciated by almost every patient. One of his patients told him that in Tamil Nadu, some practitioners prescribe medicines in Tamil.
As Manasa Orthopaedic Hospital in Bogadi, has a pharmacy unit where a Kannada knowing pharmacist works, they didn't have any problem in dispensing medicines to the patients. Dr Raghunandana had asked patients to show the medicines to him before leaving the hospital so that he could check if the correct drugs were given.
What prompted Raghunandana to write prescriptions in Kannada was his recent participation in a medical convention in Moodbidri where he attended a discussion on practicing medicine in the local language. The participants there claimed that in Russia and China, medicine is taught in the local language and the same system can be done in India too.
His teacher Dr T Manjunath, an orthopaedic consultant, was also his inspiration. Dr Manjunath has translated many medicinal words related to orthopaedics into Kannada and has exclusively penned a book on orthopaedics - 'Keelu mule jnana sandesha' in Kannada
Dr Raghunandana did his MBBS in Davanagere, his native and diploma in orthopaedics from Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute.
"This is my first attempt to write prescriptions in Kannada. The patients are likely to return for subsequent consultation after two weeks when feedback will be taken. If pharmacists are able to read Kannada and dispense medicines it won't be a problem for patients," he stated. Raghunandana wishes to continue writing prescriptions in Kannada.
Kannada activist speaks
Kannada activist M Chandrashekar appreciated the efforts of Dr Raghunandana. "Today, there is a general feeling that most Kannadigas themselves have 'abandoned' usage of Kannada but the doctor's attempt is a significant development. Of late, Kannada is being used even in various other fields including the judiciary and information technology," he said.