Which substance is NOT listed as low or medium risk?

• A. Injectable anaesthetics
• B. Vaccines
• C. Hormones
• D. Antibiotics

Answer: (C)

The concept here is how medicines are grouped by risk for handling and dispensing. Low and medium risk items are those considered to have manageable safety profiles with standard precautions, while higher-risk substances need tighter controls.

Hormones stand apart because they are highly potent biologically active substances. They can have strong systemic effects, may cause significant adverse outcomes if misused, and often have strict regulatory requirements around access, storage, and record-keeping due to concerns like residues and endocrine effects. Because of this potency and the stricter safeguards needed, hormones are not typically listed as low or medium risk.

In contrast, injectable anaesthetics, vaccines, and antibiotics are generally managed under standard safety frameworks with established handling, storage, and dispensing procedures, which is why they are categorized as low or medium risk in many practice settings.