NEC 3 SOCC - Medicine Reimbursements

NEC3 ECC Option D – Schedule of Cost Components – Medicine Reimbursements

Contractors Position
Under the employment contracts of some of the Contractor’s people, there is an entitlement for medicine reimbursements and claims that the cost for medicine reimbursement is under item 1.3(m) – medical aid of the SCC.

Project Manager’s Position
The Project Manager is of the view that reimbursement of medicine is not part of item 1.3(m) – medical aid of the SCC. Medical aid is only provided when there are accidents / illness caused in performing activities to Provide the Works.

Which side has the correct interpretation?

I’m minded to agree with the PM here although the precise meaning of the term ‘medical aid’ would need to be decided by the courts. It may be different depending on the circumstances in which the Contractor’s people find themselves, if for example the medicine is required in order for them to Provide the Works then maybe it would change things in favour of the Contractor.