3 Vancouver pharmacists ordered not to provide ‘safe supply’ pending investigation outcome
Three Vancouver pharmacists have recently been prohibited from providing patients with “safe supply” medications pending the outcome of an investigation initiated by complaints regarding the provision of opioid treatment services at two East Vancouver pharmacies. The College of Pharmacists in British Columbia took the unprecedented step of announcing interim measures against Charanjit Pal, Jennifer Van Bui, and Mamteshwari Ravnita Latchman this week. Additionally, a fourth pharmacist, Karandeep Singh Chohan, has been suspended.
Chohan, the former manager of Fraser Outreach Pharmacy where Bui and Latchman were employed as staff pharmacists, is set to begin his suspension on May 27. Pal, the manager of Fraser Neighbourhood Pharmacy located a few blocks away, will begin his suspension on May 12. The College received complaints from healthcare providers last spring regarding the pharmacies’ handling of Opioid Agonist Treatment, specifically the use of medications like methadone to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. Subsequent on-site inspections were conducted at both pharmacies.
The allegations against the pharmacists involve issues related to narcotic inventory control and management, prescription checking requirements, PharmaNet record-keeping, patient consultations, supervision of non-pharmacist staff, and compliance with ethical standards. The College’s registrar and CEO, Suzanne Solven, emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and disciplinary proceedings are yet to take place. The interim measures were deemed necessary to protect the public while the investigation progresses.
Despite none of the allegations being proven, Bui and Latchman have filed petitions in B.C. Supreme Court challenging the interim measures imposed on them. They argue that the College’s pharmacy inspections lacked proper statutory authority. The interim restrictions come amid widespread concerns in British Columbia regarding the administration of the safe supply program, which offers prescribed alternatives for individuals addicted to opioids.
Critics have raised issues about the diversion of safe supply drugs into the toxic drug supply, a claim initially denied by provincial officials until leaked Ministry of Health slides indicated otherwise. In response, the province revamped the program last February, mandating safe supply users to take their medication under the supervision of a pharmacist or healthcare provider. The CBC has also reported extensively on concerns surrounding pharmacies in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside incentivizing customers with a share of the money claimed from B.C.’s PharmaCare program.
The College previously established professional practice standards prohibiting pharmacists from providing incentives to patients, a decision upheld by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2016. Bui, Latchman, and Pal have been directed not to provide any services related to safe supply or any Opioid Agonist Treatment services in any capacity. It is worth noting that Chohan has been investigated for similar concerns on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2023, while Pal faced similar concerns at a different pharmacy in 2021.
Following the developments, Fraser Neighbourhood Pharmacy was closed on Friday, with a sign on the door citing staff shortages and limited operating hours. A new pharmacy with a slightly different name now operates in the former location of Fraser Outreach Pharmacy. The new owner of the business, who claimed to have recently acquired it, stated that he was unaware of any allegations when purchasing the pharmacy from the previous owners.
In conclusion, the ongoing investigation and legal challenges underscore the importance of maintaining ethical standards and ensuring the safety of pharmacy care in British Columbia. The outcome of these proceedings will undoubtedly have implications for the regulation and oversight of opioid treatment services in the province.
