Clinical indications are a combination of three or four words that can be used on a prescription to describe the effect on the patient of a particular drug.

See the Sample Directory of Clinical Indications for examples

This site exists to promote the use of clinical indications with the goal of seeing them widely used.

• Learn about clinical indications
• Read the frequently asked questions
• Watch the introductory video
• Try the online demonstration
• Find out about clinical indications in practice

The General Medical Council has endorsed the use of Clinical Indications for all medical prescribers in its latest guidelines on Good Practice in Prescribing published in February 2013. In the section Keeping up to date and prescribing safely the guidance advises "You should consider including clinical indications on your prescriptions."

Click here to go to this document. The guidance can be found in paragraph 10 (which is on Page 2 of the PDF).

Clinical Indications allows all Healthcare staff to understand why drugs are being prescribed. Thus the health team can reinforce prescribing indication and drug compliance.

Clinical Indications clarifies need for specific medication use and adds essential safety information. Drug prescribing indication is a valuable risk assessment tool as it helps the prescriber balance risk and benefit of the medication.