Tablet Writing vs Typing: Which is Better for Indian Doctors?

The Great Debate: Write or Type?

Every doctor considering hospital management software faces this question — should I type my prescriptions or write them on a tablet?

The answer depends on your workflow, patient volume, and comfort level. Let's break it down honestly.

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⌨️ Typing-Based Prescription Software

Most hospital software on the market requires doctors to type prescriptions using a keyboard — either on a computer or tablet.

✅ Pros

• Prescriptions are immediately structured and legible
• Templates can speed up common prescriptions
• Easy to search and organize patient records

❌ Cons

• Requires the doctor to know typing
• Slows down doctors who see 50+ patients/day
• Templates feel rigid and limiting
• Doctor's attention goes to the screen instead of the patient

⚠️ Reality check: In high-volume Indian OPDs, typing adds 30–60 seconds per prescription. Over 80 patients, that's 40–80 extra minutes per day — time most doctors simply don't have.

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✍️ Tablet Writing (Handwriting Digitization)

Tablet writing lets doctors write on a digital tablet using a stylus pen, exactly as they would on paper. The software captures the handwriting and digitizes it.

✅ Pros

• Zero learning curve — write the same way you always have
• Faster for high-volume OPDs
• Allows free-form writing, diagrams, and symbols
• Doctor's attention stays on the patient, not the screen

❌ Cons

• Handwriting recognition isn't perfect (though it's improving rapidly)
• Initial cost of purchasing the tablet

💡 Pro tip: You don't need perfect handwriting recognition. The prescription image itself is clear, shareable via WhatsApp, and stored digitally — giving you all the benefits of digital without sacrificing speed.

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💰 What About Per-Page Costs?

Some tablet writing solutions use special paper pads that cost ₹3–4 per page. Over time, this adds up significantly:

	Daily (80 patients)	Monthly
Paper pad solutions	₹240–320	₹7,000–10,000
Lifemaan (digital tablet)	₹0	₹0

Solutions like Lifemaan use a standard digital tablet with no per-page cost. You buy the tablet once, own it, and write unlimited prescriptions.

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🏆 Our Recommendation

For busy doctors who see high patient volumes and are more comfortable writing than typing, tablet writing is the clear winner. It preserves the speed and comfort of paper while adding all the benefits of digital:

• 📋 Searchable patient records
• 📱 WhatsApp sharing with one tap
• ☁️ Cloud storage — access records anywhere
• ✅ Compliance with ABDM digital health requirements

🎯 Best approach: Use tablet writing as your primary method, and keep speech-to-Rx as a backup for when you want to dictate instead of write.

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Ready to try it yourself? Book a free demo → and see how natural tablet writing feels compared to typing.