Ontario regulator exploring legal options to address allegations of corporate pressure at pharmacies [Video]

The Ontario College of Pharmacists says it’s working with a legal team to explore its options after thousands of pharmacy employees came forward to share “deeply troubling” stories about corporate pressure to perform billable services — sometimes at the expense of patient care.

In a rare statement Monday, registrar Shenda Tanchak said the college “will consider every tool available to us to address these concerns.”

“We heard that volume-focused corporate pressure results in sub-optimal care and a greater risk of error,” Tanchak said.

“And we heard that these pressures affect the well-being of pharmacists who fear, or experience, reprisal if they fail to meet corporate objectives.

“We find this deeply troubling. We cannot stand by silently and allow business practices to interfere with the delivery of safe and effective patient care.”

The statementcomes after nearly 1,300 pharmacy workers gave the college “compelling” and “deeply troubling” information about the extent of “corporate-centric” …