B.C. health ministry says RCMP called to investigate conflict allegations

VICTORIA – The B.C. Ministry of Health has asked the RCMP to investigate the relationship between university researchers seeking grants and some employees in the ministry’s division that decides what drugs B.C.’s Pharmacare program will cover.

Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid says the matter is serious enough to prompt the ministry to delay approval of Pharmacare coverage for some drugs.

MacDiarmid says the RCMP were called after her ministry conducted an internal probe which found evidence of inappropriate contract management and data access with drug researchers at the universities of British Columbia and Victoria.

Four ministry employees have been fired and three others have been suspended with pay.

MacDiarmid says two contractors, who had agreements worth $4 million, were suspended and their data access put on hold.

MacDiarmid says the investigation involves the abuse of drug research information, but so far has not found any monetary gains.

She says the Health Ministry has contacted both UBC and UVic about their investigation and the potential police probe.