Vancouver pharmacy shuttered over safer supply misuse claims
CBC
The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia has suspended the registration of a Vancouver pharmacist and shut down his pharmacy indefinitely for allegedly violating federal drug laws by misusing medications that treat opioid addiction.
Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu, who manages Health Hub Pharmacy, can no longer practise in B.C., pending an investigation and any resulting disciplinary proceedings.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) also found "evidence of criminal activities" and "public safety risks" during traffic stops of the pharmacy's delivery vehicle, the college said.
"We are responsible for making sure every pharmacy, pharmacist, and pharmacy technician in B.C. is providing the public with safe and ethical pharmacy care," said the college's CEO, Suzanne Solven, in a statement.
"The allegations that are the reason for these suspensions are extremely serious, and allowing the pharmacy to continue operating would pose a significant risk to patients, the public, and pharmacy staff."
The college says it's important to note that the claims are still under investigation, and it has not determined whether the allegations against Sidhu and his pharmacy are true.
The allegations include inappropriate narcotic drug dispensing, improperly preparing narcotic prescriptions and not complying with policies of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), which uses medications to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Health Canada said the pharmacy didn't comply with federal drug legislation after it conducted inspections. Additionally, the college said inspectors with the College of Pharmacists identified "multiple" breaches of provincial laws and college practice standards.
The college alleges the pharmacy had people not registered with the regulator delivering and administering drugs that treat opioid addiction.
In a statement to CBC News Tuesday, the VPD said that in January and February of this year, police working in the Downtown Eastside had "interactions with a person engaging in activity that was consistent with dial-a-doping" — where people call a cellphone number to arrange to buy the drugs and get them delivered to a specific location.
"The person was observed driving in the Downtown Eastside with a variety of prescription medications, cash, drug paraphernalia, and weapons. The person claimed he was an employee of a pharmacy and was doing deliveries. However, the man's behaviour was not consistent with what we know to be a legitimate delivery driver," police wrote in a statement.
While the evidence didn't meet the threshold for arrest and criminal charges, police say they forwarded the information to the College of Pharmacists.
Opioid treatment medications help people who are addicted to heroin, fentanyl and other substances. To help them improve day-to-day functioning, reduce cravings for opioid drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms, patients can be prescribed methadone, Suboxone or slow-release oral morphine, according to the Provincial Health Services Authority.
The B.C. government began providing universal coverage for eligible medications in 2020, and it has been a lightning rod for critics, including B.C.'s opposition parties and federal Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, ever since.
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