Penticton pharmacist denies allegations of role in employee’s overdose death

PENTICTON – A Penticton pharmacist’s court petition countering disciplinary action by the College of Pharmacists of B.C. has brought to light new details the allegations against her.

The college issued an order against Sunrise Pharmacy owner Joelle Mbamy in May of this year, imposing limits on Mbamy’s ability to dispense narcotics intended for opioid agonist treatment, in addition to restricting her from compounding any medication intended for intravenous administration.

Mbamy’s court petition was filed in June in an effort to put an end to the disciplinary committee’s restrictions against her, calling the complaints “spurious” in nature and "designed to give her pharmacy the impression of being guilty of misconduct, when it is not.”

The petition addresses several allegations including one regarding a former employee, Karman Grewal, who died on Sept. 17, 2017, as a result of narcotics use.

The document claims the college concluded Grewal obtained methadone from Sunrise Pharmacy prior to his death after investigation revealed a one-litre bottle of methadone found stored in an unlocked drawer in the pharmacy a year and two months following Grewal’s death.

The petition went on to note the man’s death had been investigated by RCMP who concluded Mbamy was “in no way involved.”

Other complaints against Mbamy that were reviewed by the college included a needle buyback program Mbamy started but ceased after the college disagreed with the action and a $1,000 fine she received as a result of B.C. SPCA allegations of animal mistreatment.

Complaints against Mbamy by the college included such things as dispensing medication without a prescription, inaccuracy with PharmaNet record keeping and failing to provide continuity of care during the relocation of her pharmacy 280 metres from its previous location.

But Mbamy claims a more complete explanation regarding these matters is necessary because investigators failed to ask Mbamy, whose first language is French, if she required assistance in the French language, or if she would like to retain legal counsel.

The petition argues the college’s restrictions against Mbamy would effectively put her out of business, saying 80 per cent of her income is derived from the distribution of methadone and a large portion from compounding medication.

“In real numbers, Ms.Mbamy generates sales of approximately $30,000 per month, and those sales will fall by at least 80 per cent as a result of restrictions placed on her,” the petition says.

The petition notes the order would still allow Mbamy to practice as a pharmacist, but practically she would be unable to maintain her business and the decision by the committee “will effectively be a final determination of Ms.Mbamy’s ability to work as a pharmacist.”

No dates for a discipline hearing for Mbamy are presently listed on the college of pharmacist’s website.

Court documents show the petition was adjourned on June 6.

Mbamy registered as a pharmacist in British Columbia in June 1997 after moving to Canada from Cameroon in 1996. The Belgium-trained pharmacist opened Sunrise Pharmacy in November 2002. The petition claims the May 22, 2019 order against Mbamy is the first disciplinary action taken against her by the college.

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