diff --git a/app/models/medication.rb b/app/models/medication.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/app/models/medication.rb
+++ b/app/models/medication.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class Medication < ActiveRecord::Base
   validates :dose, presence: true
   validates :medication_route_id, presence: true
   validates :frequency, presence: true
+  validates :start_date, presence: true
 
   enum provider: %i(gp hospital home_delivery)
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/medication_spec.rb b/spec/models/medication_spec.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/spec/models/medication_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/medication_spec.rb
@@ -10,4 +10,5 @@ RSpec.describe Medication, :type => :model do
   it { should validate_presence_of :dose }
   it { should validate_presence_of :medication_route_id }
   it { should validate_presence_of :frequency }
+  it { should validate_presence_of :start_date }
 end
Added validation for start_date in medications.