Public Notifications

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 32.3(3)(b)(ii) of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily suspend their registration as a pharmacist effective August 29, 2024. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act.

September 13, 2021
(AUgust 29, 2024 - Registration suspended)

The Inquiry Committee has approved to change pharmacist’s registration back to Active status after it had previously been suspended for an indefinite period on April 18, 2021. Pursuant to section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act, the Inquiry Committee has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant whereby the pharmacist registrant consented to terms including, but not limited to, the following:

1. To comply with any and all treatment plans as recommended by their medical providers;
    
2. To comply with any and all return to work plans as advised by their medical providers and/or employers;
    
3. To voluntarily stop working as a pharmacist and self-report to the College in the event that their medical condition may hinder their performance and/or fitness to practice as a pharmacist;
    
4. To authorize and direct any and all caregivers, treating physicians, and/or institution(s) to furnish the College with a written report and any and all information that relates to their health, including a diagnosis, prognosis, status of recovery and/or treatment plan pertaining to their health condition and recovery, when and if necessary for the College to obtain such information;
    

5. The College may furnish their treating physician(s) and any practitioner involved in their care with any information and documentation necessary for an independent medical assessment as well as monitoring and/or follow-up therapy, as necessary.

The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4) and (6) of the Health Professions Act.

December 8, 2020

(August 9, 2021 - Registration Reinstated)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 32.3(3)(b)(ii) of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily suspend their registration as a pharmacist effective December 8, 2020. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act.

April 18, 2021

(September 13, 2021 - Registration Resinstated)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 32.2(4)(b)(ii) of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily suspend their registration as a pharmacist effective April 18, 2021. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act.

February 20, 2015

(April 18, 2021 - Registration suspended)

Pharmacist Registrant 6 has satisfied the terms of an agreement reached with the Inquiry Committee dated October 3, 2010. Limits and conditions on pharmacist registrant’s registration as a pharmacist have now been removed. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act.

October 3, 2010

(February 20, 2015 - Limits and conditions removed)

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to Section 36 of the Health Professions Act, has reached an agreement with pharmacist registrant to place limits and/or conditions on his registration as a pharmacist effective October 3, 2010. The agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant's name has been withheld pursuant to 39.3(4) of the Health Professions Act. 

Description of Action:

A panel of the Inquiry Committee (the “Panel”) of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) has ordered that, effective August 23, 2024, the registration of pharmacist Sahil Sharma (the “Registrant”) is suspended pending completion of an investigation and any resulting disciplinary proceeding.

While his registration is suspended, the Registrant must not practice pharmacy in British Columbia, must not act as a pharmacy manager, and must not hold himself out as being a registrant of the College.

This interim suspension order is made pursuant to the authority for taking extraordinary action under section 35 of the Health Professions Act. Suspension under this authority requires the Inquiry Committee to be satisfied that the evidence shows there is a real risk of harm to patients, pharmacy professionals or other members of the public if the order is not made. However, it is important to note that the Inquiry Committee has not made any findings of fact or any findings as to whether any allegations regarding the Registrant are or are not proven.

Reasons for Action: 

The Registrant is the pharmacy manager of Lougheed Pharmacy (the “Pharmacy”), located at Unit 6 – 22932 Lougheed Hwy in Maple Ridge, BC.

The College received concerns from a member of the public regarding the Registrant and the Pharmacy, including their provision of Opioid Agonist Treatment (“OAT”) services. In May 2024, College inspectors performed an onsite inspection of the Pharmacy and identified what appeared to be multiple breaches of provincial legislation and College practice standards.

Based on the information before it, the Panel concluded that the Registrant’s continued practice of pharmacy and management of the Pharmacy poses significant risks to individual patients and the public. Under the Registrant’s management of the Pharmacy, allegations have been identified regarding the following matters:

• Inadequate security and storage of narcotic inventory: Narcotic and controlled drugs were not appropriately secured and stored both inside and outside of the Pharmacy.
• Inadequate protection of personal information: Patient information was not appropriately secured both inside and outside of the Pharmacy.
• Inadequate management of narcotic inventory: Inventory management procedures and related records for narcotic and controlled drugs were not appropriately maintained.
• Inadequate prescription labelling: Prepared prescription products, including narcotic and controlled drugs, were found to be improperly, inaccurately, or completely unlabelled.
• Inadequate final checks: Prepared prescription products, including narcotic and controlled drugs, were found to have contents differing from the prescription label and the prescriber’s original prescription.
• Inadequate record keeping: Prescription and dispensing records were incomplete and inconsistent.
• Inadequate security measures: The Pharmacy’s security equipment did not meet legislated requirements.

The Panel also considered the Registrant had been previously investigated for similar concerns at a different pharmacy in 2019. The Panel noted that, as a result of that previous investigation, the Registrant had declared his remediation of the concerns identified at that time and his understanding of legislated requirements and had given undertakings to abide by those requirements in future. It appeared to the Panel that the Registrant did not comply with these legislated requirements, and instead consciously placed his own interests ahead of diligently adhering to requirements and protecting his patients from potential harm.

The Panel considered what interim measures would be sufficient and proportionate in this case. Due to the Registrant’s questionable judgment over an extended period of time and his pattern of repeated non-compliance with legislated requirements, the Panel was not satisfied that the Registrant would comply with any limits or conditions that would satisfactorily protect the public. Therefore, having weighed the available options and circumstances of the case, and having considered the impact on the Registrant, the Panel concluded that protection of the public can only be achieved through an interim suspension of the Registrant’s registration.

1. Nature of Action: 

   The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) conducted an investigation into the conduct of Sameh Elbably (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (“HPA”).

   The Inquiry Committee and the Registrant have agreed to resolve all matters arising from the investigation by way of a Consent Agreement under section 36(1) of the HPA.

2. Effective date: August 12, 2024

3. Name of registrant: Sameh Elbably

4. Location of Practice: Kelowna, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgments:
   
   The Inquiry Committee determined, and the Registrant acknowledged that he:

   1. Dispensed nineteen (19) prescriptions without valid authorization and despite having a “reversed” status on PharmaNet, for himself and members of his family, contrary to section 19(5) and 35(1) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Schedule Act Bylaws and section 11(1) of the HPA Bylaws, Schedule F, Part I – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice;

   2. Practiced outside his scope of pharmacy practice when he dispensed and provided unauthorized prescriptions for himself and his family members, contrary to standard 1 and standard 7 of the HPA, Bylaws, Schedule A, Code of Ethics – Detailed (“Code of Ethics”)

   3. Dispensed medications to himself and his family members, contrary to standard 2 of the HPA Bylaws, Schedule A – Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest Standards and standard 8 of the Code of Ethics;

   4. Contrary to standard 9 of the Code of Ethics, attempted to conceal his conduct by reversing nineteen (19) prescriptions on PharmaNet, despite dispensing them, which included falsifying four (4) verbal order prescriptions. He also provided disingenuous information to the College Investigator; and
       
   5. Dispensed six (6) inappropriate emergency supply prescriptions for his spouse by failing to adhere to Professional Practice Policy 31 – Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care.
       

6. Disposition:

   The Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the College’s Inquiry Committee, wherein the Registrant consented to terms that included (but not limited to) the following:

   1. To thoroughly review and read legislation, standards, and policies relevant to the conduct which this matter relates, and thereafter to submit a Declaration of Understanding to the College;

   2. To complete learning activities

   3. To review and complete the Code of Ethics: Educational Tutorial by the College;

   4. To complete and successfully pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals within 180 days of signing the Agreement;
       

   5. To appear before the Inquiry Committee for a verbal reprimand after completing the ethics course;

   6. To pay a $2,000 fine;

   7. To have a letter of reprimand placed on the College register for a period of three (3) years;

   8. To be suspended as a registrant of the College for a period of ninety (90) days from August 12, 2024 to November 9, 2024; and

   9. To not act as a pharmacy manager or a preceptor of pharmacy students and/or international pharmacy graduates for a period of three (3) years following the completion of his suspension 

7. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee considered the Registrant’s conduct demonstrated a severe and prolonged pattern of behavior. They also considered the Registrant’s lack of understanding regarding the gravity of his conduct as well as the Registrant’s lack of accountability to professional practice standards.

   The Inquiry Committee believed the Registrant’s explanations and justifications for his conduct were not valid. They also perceived the Registrant’s decision-making to be lacking and judged the breadth and scope of his conduct as indicative of poor judgement. Furthermore, the Inquiry Committee deemed the Registrant’s unethical conduct, which included falsifying prescription documentation as well as an apparent intent to mislead colleagues and the College, to be extremely concerning.

   Therefore, the Inquiry Committee considered that the appropriate disposition regarding the Registrant’s conduct include significant remediation and serious punitive measures. The Inquiry Committee considered the terms of the Consent Agreement necessary to protect the public, uphold confidence in the integrity of pharmacy practice, and to send a clear message of deterrence to the profession.

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 32.2(4)(b)(i) of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily limit their scope of practice as a pharmacist effective July 15, 2024. The pharmacist registrant will be limited from performing dispensary duties such as clinical check, final check, and pharmacist/patient consultations. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act.