10-11-16 Guidelines for administering medicines to students at schools

In cases during the 2016-2017 school year in which students must take medicines, the provisions of Education Ministry encyclical Φ.7/495/123484/Γ1/4-10-2010 remain in effect.

It states that educators are not required to have medical or pharmaceutical knowledge in order to administer medication orally or by injection for special cases of students, such as diabetics or epileptics, or for seasonal viruses. Teachers are required to administer basic first aid to students when necessary.

In cases where pharmaceutical treatment is necessary, parents must request permission of the school principal, so that they or another person they designate can enter the school premises and administer the treatment.

In serious, emergency medical cases, principals must call the EKAV ambulance service at telephone number 166 to pick up the child, while simultaneously informing parents.

The text of the 2010 encyclical follows:

In response to queries to our directorate about students who require pharmaceutical treatment during the kindergarten or primary school day, the following applies:

In accordance with Ministerial Decision Φ.353.1/324/105657/Δ1/16-10-2002 (Government Gazette 1340Β), Article 36, “Duties and competencies of educators”, the work of teachers are all tasks that touch on educational procedures – the teaching, education, and schooling of students, aiming at quality education, social progress, and the dissemination of culture.

Hence, educators are not required to have medical or pharmaceutical knowledge (administering medicines orally or by injection) in order to assist in treating special types of student illnesses (adolescent diabetes, epilectic crises, seasonal viruses etc.). This does not exclude the teacher’s duty to offer basic first aid to students.

In cases where pharmaceutical treatment is necessary, parents or guardians must request permission to enter the school themselves, or send someone they designate, to administer the treatment.

In emergency cases, principals may only call the EKAV ambulance service at telephone number 166 to transport the child, while simultaneously informing parents.

All school teachers must be informed of this in writing.