Vancouver Approves New Pharmacy, Renewing Safer Supply Debate

The approval of Flash Pharmacy and Medical Centre to operate at 66 West Hastings in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has reignited discussions surrounding British Columbia’s “safer supply” program. This new establishment marks the sixth pharmacy in a concentrated area known for its ongoing struggles with drug addiction and related issues.

The decision comes less than a year after a leaked document from the Ministry of Health indicated that over 60 pharmacies in the vicinity were under scrutiny for allegedly offering client incentives to secure dispensing fees amounting to $11,000. The document also raised concerns about a “significant portion” of prescribed opioids being diverted to the illicit market. Allegations pointed to involvement from medical professionals, assisted living facilities, and organized crime syndicates.

Elenore Sturko, the BC Conservative public safety critic, emphasized the lack of updates regarding the ongoing investigation. “As far as we can tell, those practices haven’t stopped,” she stated. Sturko criticized the government’s failure to hold itself accountable, claiming the current system enables exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

Residents of the Downtown Eastside have expressed their concerns to Global News, alleging that certain pharmacies continue to offer cash kickbacks to secure individual patients’ prescriptions. Given the unresolved issues surrounding pharmacy practices in this area, Sturko articulated apprehension about the approval of yet another pharmacy. “The sickest part for me is we’re talking about people who are very, very sick,” she remarked. “They need help. Instead, they’ve been both exploited and given a currency to trade, fueling the fentanyl trade rather than aiding recovery.”

Global News has sought comments from Health Minister Josie Osborn for nearly three weeks but has been informed on multiple occasions of her unavailability.

In February 2024, the provincial government revised the safer supply program, shifting from a model that allowed drug users to take their medications home to a “witness model.” This new approach mandates that patients consume their medications under the supervision of healthcare professionals. Advocates for drug users argue that the province should expand the program rather than restrict it.

During remarks at International Overdose Awareness Day, former BC chief coroner Lisa Lapointe underscored the importance of the safer supply program in saving lives. “People who die can’t access treatment. People are dying every day, five or six,” she stated. “Providing pharmaceutical alternatives is the way to keep people alive now so we can help them in their treatment journey.”

In contrast, Sturko contended that there is insufficient evidence supporting the program’s effectiveness in saving lives. She pointed to the federal government’s recent decision to reduce funding for safer supply initiatives in BC as further proof of its ineffectiveness. Sturko argued that pharmacies are profiting from the exploitation of individuals grappling with addiction. “It would save the taxpayer a lot of money if we concentrated on programs that did help people,” she noted, advocating for a focus on evidence-based treatments rather than merely improving drug dispensing practices.

The College of Pharmacists of B.C. has initiated actions against four pharmacists in Vancouver to safeguard public interests. The allegations outlined in the ministry document remain unproven, highlighting the complexities surrounding the ongoing discourse on safer supply programs in British Columbia.