VANCOUVER — Two Vancouver pharmacists facing sanctions for alleged improper opioid-dispensing practices are taking the College of Pharmacists of B.C. to court, claiming evidence was collected "improperly" during inspections by college investigators.
The college announced last month that it was limiting the practices of four pharmacists who worked at two Vancouver pharmacies over "serious" allegations of improper opioid dispensing and record keeping at the pharmacies.
College CEO Suzanne Solven said it was an "extraordinary step" to suspend pharmacy manager Karandeep Singh Chohan's registration, and limit the practices of Charanjit Pal, Mamteshwari Latchman and Jennifer Van Bui before the college's investigation was finished.
Chohan was the manager of Fraser Outreach Pharmacy, and "college inspectors identified what appeared to be multiple breaches of the college’s bylaws and standards" in August last year, the reasons for action posted by the college said.
The reason's about Chohan's suspension say he was also investigated five times for similar conduct between 2016 and 2023.
A notification for Pal said he was the manager of Fraser Neighbourhood Pharmacy and had been investigated for "similar concerns" at a different pharmacy in 2021.
Van Bui, Latchman and Pal's practice limitations include conditions that they "not provide any services related to 'safe supply' in any form or capacity."
Latchman and Van Bui filed petitions in B.C. Supreme Court last month claiming the inspections of the pharmacies that led to its decision were done without "proper statutory authority" and that evidence was collected "improperly."
Both Latchman and Van Bui filed affidavits stating that Fraser Outreach's manager told them that the college's inspections were done "without proper statutory authority" and that evidence was "obtained improperly."
They claim the pharmacy manager had a lawyer who would be making the case to the college's inquiry committee that the inspections were done outside inspector's jurisdiction and without "procedural fairness."
The limitations imposed on Latchman and Van Bui took effect on March 24 and Pal's practice limits took effect May 12, but Chohan's suspension won't be implemented until May 27 "pending completion of the investigation and any resulting disciplinary hearing."
The college says inspections of the Vancouver pharmacies in 2024 uncovered a number of issues including "inadequate" narcotic inventory control, inaccurate record keeping, and "non-compliance" with opioid agonist treatment dispensing and delivery standards.
Van Bui and Latchman's lawyers did not respond to a request for comment about the petitions, and the College of Pharmacists of BC did not provide comment on the cases.
The B.C. Ministry of Health said in February that it was investigating allegations against more than 60 pharmacies "suspected of engaging in illegal activities, including misusing fee-for-service payments to offer incentives to attract patients."
It said the government was changing the fee structure for pharmacies that offer opioids under the "prescribed alternatives" regime, in part to "avoid financial incentive for bad actors to offer kickbacks to retain and attract new patients, and to try to take advantage of the system."
Health Minister Josie Osborne said most pharmacies follow the rules, "but it is unacceptable that bad actors are exploiting the health-care system and putting communities at risk.”
“We are working with law enforcement to stop illegal activity and ensure pharmacies operate in the best interests of patients and public safety.”
The Health Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday about on the status of the pharmacy investigations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2025.
Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press
