No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6.5
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
A controller came in to work.  He called medical to see if he could take some medicine.  They no longer have a doctor on call 24/7.  It is now [three hours later] and we still do not have a returned call from medical about whether or not the controller can work.  Our job requires us to be able to work or know if we are able to work 24/7 so we need to be able to get an answer about medications 24/7.  I don't know when this started but it has been this way for at least 6 months.  From what I have been told the doctor will not accept calls from 10pm till 8am.  I don't know if this is Western; Mountain; Central; or Eastern Time zone.  This is unacceptable.  We need to be able to get an answer about medication immediately.Have someone available 24/7 to answer questions about medications or stop the airplanes from 10pm to 8am.
ZOB Controller reports of a Controller coming to work and attempting to find out from medical if they can take some medicine and work. Time passes and there is no answer from medical. Controller complains about not being able to find out if a Controller can work while taking a specific type of medicine.