Canadian Appeals Court Shuts Down Ontario Operations of Global Pharmacy Canada
On June 10th, 2013, Global Pharmacy Canada, a fake
Internet pharmacy based in Belize, was forced by the Ontario Court of Appeal to
shut down offices in Toronto for violating Ontario’s professional pharmacy
rules. Global Pharmacy Canada was originally cited by Health Canada for
marketing drugs to Canadians that were not of Canadian origin on July 27, 2010.
While still in operation, they can no longer maintain offices in Canada.
In a ruling handed down June 10th, the Ontario Court of Appeals rejected
an appeal by Global Pharmacy Canada to counter the cease and desist ruling of
the Ontario College of Pharmacists for all its business operations in Canada.
The ruling described Global Pharmacy Canada’s Ontario operation as “its sales
force,” and noted that although the sales, purchases and orders were all
processed through the Canadian call center, the drugs were actually fulfilled
by an unidentified “Indian pharmacist.” In her judgment, Justice Eileen E.
Gillespe remarked “I note that there is no named pharmacist in India. There is
no indication in any of the documentation sent to the client who the supplier
of the drugs may be, and whether or not these drugs in fact come from an Indian
pharmacist as represented, or from a supplier of drugs.”
The National Post reports
that the Court of Appeal confirmation of the Ontario College of Pharmacists
ruling will be enforced, and Global Pharmacy Canada must cease all operations
in Canada, and close their offices in Mississauga, Ontario by June 25th.
In 2010, Health Canada, the Canadian
drug agency analogous to the United States’ FDA, issued a warning about Global
Pharmacy Canada saying “Products sold at the Global Pharmacy Canada website
have not been authorized for sale by Health Canada, and Global Pharmacy Canada
is not a licensed pharmacy in Canada. Canadians who have used any products
purchased at the company’s website, or are concerned about their health, should
consult with their healthcare practitioner.”
Health Canada went even further, warning that so-called “Canadian
pharmacies” may not be in Canada at all. “Consumers should also be aware that
there is no assurance that all claims made on the internet that a particular
site is Canadian and / or a pharmacy, are reliable. Some internet sites may
falsely claim to be a Canadian pharmacy and dispense foreign drugs that are
unauthorized for sale in Canada.”
Legitscript identifies
Global Pharmacy Canada as a “rogue Internet Pharmacy,” and that they are “not a
licensed Canadian pharmacy,” warning consumers to avoid contact with them.
In 2012, the Oregonian did a
story on Global Pharmacy Canada. They spoke to Portland resident John Horton,
founder of Legitscript, as well as Patricia Parker, a local resident who had
purchased her medication from Global Pharmacy Canada. They also spoke with the
operator of the call center that manages Global Pharmacy Canada’s sales. Patricia
Parker originally purchased her blood thinner from Global Pharmacy Canada, but
when she found out that Legistscript had classified them as a rogue pharmacy
she told the Oregonian “I’m so angry, I’m spitting tacks.”
The Oregonian reported that Legitscript tracked Global Pharmacy
Canada’s drug shipment path to Belize where the company is registered, and is
part of a network with ties to Azerbaijan and Czech Republic. The operator of
Global Pharmacy Canada’s call center, Richard Perko, explained why an Internet
pharmacy company based in Belize would use a call center in Canada. “[Americans] don’t like calling India, Singapore, the Philippines or whatever.”
Petko claimed to run call center operations for several so-called “Canadian”
pharmacies. He explained that “hardly anyone even operates a pharmacy. No
one is shipping drugs from Canada. It’s a worldwide business,” reported The
Oregonian.
You can protect yourself and your loved ones from unscrupulous
fake online pharmacy operators posing as homespun Canadian pharmacies. Take a
few minutes to review our Facts About Importing Drugs from
Canada to learn more.