3 pharmacists linked to Thunder Bay pharmacy now face misconduct allegations by Ontario regulator
Multiple pharmacists associated with a pharmacy in south Thunder Bay, Ont., are facing a new set of misconduct allegations from the provincial regulator of the pharmacy profession. The allegations include falsifying records and misappropriating drugs from the pharmacy on Victoria Avenue.
The Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) had previously been investigating Fort William Medical Pharmacy and two pharmacists, Jaspreet Sahota and Chi (Hao) Luu, for alleged misconduct that occurred between January 2023 and May 2023. The allegations included breaking federal narcotic laws and dispensing prescriptions without valid authorization. Sahota and Luu are scheduled to face professional misconduct hearings related to these allegations in 2024.
Recently, the OCP made additional allegations against Sahota, Luu, and a third pharmacist, Alamgir (Alam) Hallan. These new allegations, referred to the college on March 24, accuse the pharmacists of falsifying records and billing for medication reviews that were either never conducted or done improperly.
Sahota, Luu, and Hallan have been accused of submitting claims for payment to the Ontario Drug Benefit Program for MedsCheck services that were not performed in compliance with the program’s requirements. MedsCheck is a government program in Ontario that reimburses pharmacies for reviewing a patient’s medications to ensure they are being taken correctly.
In response to the allegations, Sahota, Luu, and Hallan have provided varying statements. Sahota did not respond to requests for comment, while Luu declined to comment when contacted by CBC. Hallan acknowledged the allegations but stated that he believes they are unfounded and will be disputing them.
The alleged misconduct by Sahota, Luu, and Hallan is said to have taken place between October 2021 and May 2023. Sahota is scheduled to face disciplinary hearings on April 22 for previous allegations, while Luu’s hearing is set for May 5. Hallan’s hearing and subsequent hearings related to the additional allegations have not yet been scheduled.
The OCP website indicates that Fort William Medical Pharmacy Inc. is currently listed as “In Receivership,” but is entitled to operate. The profiles for Luu and Hallan show no restrictions on their ability to provide patient care, and neither currently lists Fort William Medical Pharmacy as a workplace. Sahota’s profile indicates that he can provide care with conditions, including an active interim order with monitoring requirements imposed on his practice.
Overall, the pharmacists’ misconduct allegations have raised concerns about the integrity of the pharmacy profession in Ontario, and disciplinary hearings will be held in the coming weeks to address these issues.
