Pharmacy Association CEO defends industry's ethics after Moose Jaw pharmacist found taking gifts - Action News
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Saskatchewan

Pharmacy Association CEO defends industry's ethics after Moose Jaw pharmacist found taking gifts

A Moose Jaw pharmacist who accepted prepaid Visa cards, retail gift cards and American Express certificates is the exception to the industry, not the norm, according to the CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan.

Pharmascience representative told Moose Jaw pharmacist gifts are industry standard, documents say

Niklas Voelk received prepaid Visa cards, retail gift cards and American Express certificates randomly, with no strings attached. Voelk was apparently told by a Pharmascience representative that they were gifts and standard practice across Canada. (Garrett Barry/CBC)

A Moose Jaw pharmacistwho acceptedprepaid Visa cards, retail gift cards and American Express certificates from a drug manufacturer is the exception in the industry, not the norm, according to the CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan.

"It's not very common at all for an individual pharmacist, or a staff pharmacist, to take gifts personally like this," Dawn Martin told CBC Radio'sThe Morning Editionon Friday.

"I think it's incredibly important to understand that pharmacists adhere to the highest ethical standards when they work with patients."

Moose Jaw pharmacist NiklasVoelkdid not adhere to those standards,according to a disciplinary decision from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals in December.

Voelk was fired from his job at the Moose Jaw Co-op in October 2015 after he told the Co-op general manager he had received more than $705,000 worth of cards fromgeneric drug manufacturerPharmascience, an offence which "diverted the benefits away from the Moose Jaw Co-op Pharmacy."

"Mr. Voelk was told by the representative for Pharmascience that such gifts were standard practice across Canada," the document reads.

Martin said Pharmascience's assertion is false, saying for the most partpharmacists aren't involved in business transactions between drug companies and pharmacies.

"Typically, that's done through a head office or a business office ... it might be done regionally or nationally at that level," she said.

When manufacturers provide what Martin calls "professional allowance," they are a percentage of the purchased product given back to the pharmacy, not the pharmacist, to facilitate other services.

"This has become very embedded in the business model and very necessary for those pharmacies to be able to continue to provide service," Martin said.

The model is particularly helpful for pharmacies in smaller, more rural communities, she said.

With files from CBC Radio's The Morning Edition