Previous and current franchise owners proposed a class action lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart for “risks to patient safety” and “risk of causing patient harm.”
The uncertified lawsuit was filed on April 11 at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice by Toronto-based law firm Ricketts Harris LLP.
The franchise owners claim they were placed in situations that caused an “irredeemable conflict of interest” after the company Loblaws acquired Shoppers Drug Mart in 2014.
Loblaws allegedly created “risks to patient safety and pose a significant risk of causing patient harm,” according to a statement of claim.
The practices named in the suit include medication reviews, along with vaccinations, illness diagnoses, and prescriptions.
Pharmacist terminated for speaking out
The claim additionally states that Shoppers Drug Mart has terminated contracts with pharmacists who questioned the alleged unsafe practices and “breached key obligations.”
Sivajana Sivapalan, a pharmacist leading the lawsuit, said he was terminated without reason from Shoppers Drug Mart in 2023 after expressing concerns in regards to their business decisions.
Sivapalan has been running their pharmacy for 12 years, working in Beamsville, Ontario, since 2011.
Franchise owners say that despite communicating concern, Loblaws has taken “little to no action” to address the issues.
The Ontario College of Pharmacists
After a meeting with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) on March 25, they announced a “zero tolerance” for business practices that will prevent the “ability to deliver effective care” to patients.
The OCP claimed to hear from “thousands” of pharmacists concerning unsafe practices involving patients and stated in a news release they found “inappropriate pressure” to conduct medication reviews “deeply troubling.”
“The College will consider every tool available to us to address those concerns,” they added.
Loblaws has spoken out regarding the proposed suit, saying the case has “no merit whatsoever” and the company will “vigorously defend” itself.
