Is It Safe to Give Employees Medicine Like Paracetamol Without a Doctor's Advice?

Dear All,

I require your attention. Can we keep medicines like Paracetamol, Crocin, Disprin, etc., and issue them to an employee if demanded for certain pain or headache without doctor's advice? I am certain this is not allowed. In that case, in which Act/Rule is it mentioned? Please guide.

Regards,
Safety first

No, you can't give any medicine to anyone without a medical practitioner. One more thing, you are not allowed to keep medicine on your company premises. If a medical room is available, then you can keep medicine, and 24/7 doctor availability is necessary.

Safety First

As per the Factories Act 1948, Section 45 states that only first aid appliances are allowed. Mr. Amit said that only medical practitioners have the authorization to suggest medicines.

Regards,
Narayan

Thank you for your replies. It is very clear to me. I am being asked to keep the medicine because we have a medical room with a doctor visiting weekly. I kept it so that the doctor can administer it if needed. In his absence, tablets like paracetamol, disprin, and Crocin are demanded. When I refused, they said, "How can you? It is an emergency. Should we wait for the doctor's visit?" That's why I asked for documentation to show.

Regards,
Safety First

As per the Factory Act of 1948, under Section 45, there should be a first aid box provided for a workforce of 150 workers. The act specifies a list of items that must be kept in the first aid kit. However, there is no mention of other medications such as paracetamol, Disprin, etc., in the act.

Regards,
Ravindra Kumar Gupta
Asst. Manager-HR
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

The medicines you mentioned are basically OTC (Over The Counter) medications—different from those which can be issued by any medical/pharmacy shop only on a doctor's prescription. The employees can also buy them from the local Kirana/Grocery shop nowadays if they wish to.

Frankly, I don't see any reason for refusal from your end for such medications. I suggest checking with your doctor who visits every week before making the final call.

However, there could also be another side to such requests from employees—it depends on the type/nature/mentality of employees you have. Some employees are prone to misuse such a facility rather than buying them outside for use by their family. I hope you get the point.

One way to preempt such situations would be to keep a tab/record of any issues with the medicines.

Regards,
TS

Even though these medicines are OTC (over-the-counter), you may have a staff member who is allergic to any or all of them. I think this is one reason why many organizations around the world no longer allow them to be stocked in First Aid Kits on the premises. The risk of someone taking something accidentally and having a major health incident—or worse—is too big a risk to take.

OTC Medicines in First Aid Kits

I know here in Australia, in many—if not all—organizations, OTC painkillers are not allowed in First Aid Kits. This rule has been in place for many years now.

At my current place of employment, I keep a few tablets for my own personal use in my bag for emergencies, and I know other staff members do also. But staff members must be made aware that they should not give medicines of any sort to their colleagues.

Duty of Care Obligations

I guess it all comes down to an organization's duty of care obligations.

Prescribing Medicine: Guidelines and Restrictions

Prescribing medicine in case of illness to a person should be done by a Registered Medical Practitioner only. Even the practitioner should be an MBBS doctor and should be registered with the Medical Council of the state/MCI.

Over-the-Counter Medication: Usage and Limitations

Now, coming to the question of giving medicine to those who ask for it due to illness. Drugs that are sold over the counter, such as Paracetamol and Disprin, should be purchased by an individual for themselves. They cannot prescribe these drugs to others for their sickness, as all the aforementioned drugs can lead to severe side effects.

A trained nurse who is within your company can administer the above-mentioned drugs for immediate relief, and the medication is intended for one day only. Patients are advised to return the next day for a review by the doctor.

No medicine should be kept in the first aid box or anywhere else in the absence of a qualified person such as a nurse, pharmacist, or doctor. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine can be purchased by an individual from the pharmacy store, but employees cannot demand to have them kept in the office or shop floor. Also, you do not need to seek the support of the law for every activity or decision. Each individual is different and has varying susceptibility to different medicines. Drug overdose, accidentally taking the wrong medicine, and hypersensitivity are major risks. For example, even a simple medicine like paracetamol can have serious reactions if someone is suffering from liver disease. We have even removed antacids like Digene from our first aid boxes in the office. Initially, there was resistance, but awareness drives have helped people understand the importance of taking medicine only under medical supervision.

Regards,
Dr. Divyang Shah
Occupational Health Physician

I consulted with our visiting doctor and decided not to keep such tablets.

Thanks for all the replies and valuable information.

Regards,
Safety First

Some of our friends have rightly suggested the provisions of Sec. 45 of the Factories Act. Similar provisions are also present in the Mines Act of 1956 and some other Acts that deal with safety in the workplace.

Statutory Requirements for First Aid

Firstly, it is a statutory requirement to have emergency medicines and a first aid box available. The administration of first aid should be carried out under the supervision of employees who are trained in first aid. There is no strict rule stating that medicines or medical aid can only be provided under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. After administering first aid, it is up to the condition of the injured or suffering employee whether they should be referred to a dispensary/hospital for further specialist treatment or if the first aid provided is sufficient.

Guidelines for Providing Medication

Therefore, there is no reason to refuse to give medicine under the guidance of a First Aid Trained employee (St. John Ambulance certifies such individuals for a duration of 3 to 5 years at a time) if deemed appropriate by the trained person. However, medication should not be provided solely based on the demand of the suffering employee. Concerning the possibility of an individual having a sensitivity to a particular drug, the trained person may inquire about this information as it varies for each person. To prevent potential accidents due to sensitivity in approximately 1-2% of cases, the needs of the majority, 98-99% of individuals, should not be overlooked.

Regards,
AK Jain
HR Personnel
NCL, CIL

I am working with an MNC company, and my company does have medicines like Crocin, Disprin, etc., along with a First Aid kit. So, I don't think it's a major issue to have those.