Public Notifications

1. Nature of Action: The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (the “College”) conducted an investigation into the conduct of Rami Hanania (the “Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (“HPA”).
    

2. Effective date: April 18, 2024

3. Name of registrant: Rami Basem Hanania

4. Location of Practice: Sechelt, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgements: 

   The Inquiry Committee determined, and the Registrant acknowledged, that while practicing as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager at a pharmacy, he:

   1. Falsified inventory records and circumvented controls to conceal narcotic losses, contrary to Standard 7(a) and 7(b) of the HPA Bylaws, Schedule A - Code of Ethics;
       
   2. Left the pharmacy premises and left unregulated pharmacy staff unsupervised while the pharmacy was still operating and accessible to the public without another registrant present, contrary to section 5 of the HPA Bylaws, Schedule F, Part I – Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice and section 27(1) of the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws;
       
   3. Purchased illicit substances while practicing as a pharmacist, contrary to Standard 7(a) of the Code of Ethics; and
       
   4. Consumed a mood-altering substance on the morning of a day where he was scheduled to practice as a pharmacist, contrary to Standards 7(a), 7(f), 7(g), 7(h), and 7(i) of the Code of Ethics.

    

6. Disposition:

   The Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the College’s Inquiry Committee, wherein the Registrant consented to terms that included (but are not limited to) the following: 

   1. To pay a $1,000.00 fine;

   2. To be suspended as a registrant of the College for a period of thirty (30) days from April 18, 2024 to May 17, 2024;

   3. To complete and successfully pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals; 

   4. To appear before the Inquiry Committee for a verbal reprimand after completing the ethics course;

   5. To have a letter of reprimand placed permanently on the College register;

   6. Following completion of the suspension, to not act as pharmacy manager, director, officer, or as a preceptor for pharmacy students for a period of 5 (five) years; and

   7. Following completion of the suspension, to not perform administrative tasks related to narcotic and controlled substances for a period of 1 (one) year.

7. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee considered it owes a duty to the public and to the pharmacy profession to enforce and maintain the standards of practice and code of conduct expected of members of the profession.
   
   The Inquiry Committee considered that the Registrant’s conduct was highly unethical and amounted to a “serious matter” and “professional misconduct” as defined in section 26 of the HPA. The Registrant took advantage of his role, authority, and privileges as a pharmacist, thereby undermining the integrity of the pharmacy profession. While there were mitigating factors, his conduct was unlawful and was a clear breach of the legal and ethical standards expected of pharmacy professionals.
   
   While the Inquiry Committee recognized the role of remediation, the Inquiry Committee also determined that the disposition should include serious punitive deterrents, given the Registrant’s conduct.
   
   The Inquiry Committee considered the terms of the Consent Agreement necessary to protect the public, as well as send a clear message of deterrence to the profession. 

1. Nature of Action: The Inquiry Committee of the College of Pharmacists of BC (the “College”) conducted an investigation into the conduct of now former registrant Fitim Hajrizaj (the “Former Registrant”), pursuant to section 33(4) of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183 (“HPA”). The Inquiry Committee and the Former Registrant have agreed to resolve all matters arising from the investigation by way of a Consent Agreement under section 36(1) of the HPA.
    

2. Effective date: January 26, 2024

3. Name of registrant: Fitim Hajrizaj

4. Location of Practice: Esquimalt, BC

5. Admissions and Acknowledgements: 

   Between 2021 and 2022, while working as a pharmacist at a federally regulated facility, the Former Registrant misappropriated controlled drugs and falsified records to conceal his conduct

6. Disposition:

   The Former Registrant entered into a Consent Agreement with the College’s Inquiry Committee, wherein he consented to terms that included (but not limited to) the following, which would take effect if and when the Former Registrant is reinstated to an active practicing registration class:

   1. To be suspended as a registrant of the College for a period of 90 days, to commence immediately upon his reinstatement to an active practicing registration class;

   2. To have the following limits and conditions applied to his practice for a period of 3 years, to commence on the date that the 90-day suspension ends:

      1. To not be a pharmacy manager or preceptor for pharmacy students;
          
      2. In relation to narcotic and controlled drugs, to not place and receive orders or have related signing authority, to not conduct inventory counts and reconciliations, and to not handle, dispose, destroy, or return such substances;
          

   3. To complete and successfully pass an ethics course for healthcare professionals, within one year of reinstatement to an active practicing registration class; and

   4. To pay a fine of $1,000.00 within one year of reinstatement to an active practicing registration class.
       
   The terms for this Consent Agreement also include a letter of reprimand that has been placed on the College register.
    

7. Rationale:

   The Inquiry Committee considered it owes a duty to the public and to the pharmacy profession to enforce and maintain the standards of practice and code of conduct expected of members of the profession.
   
   The Inquiry Committee considered that the Former Registrant’s conduct was highly unethical and amounted to a “serious matter” and “professional misconduct” as defined in section 26 of the HPA. The Former Registrant took advantage of his role, authority, and privileges as a pharmacist, thereby undermining the integrity of the pharmacy profession. While there were mitigating factors, his conduct was unlawful and was a clear breach of the ethical standards expected of pharmacy professionals.
   
   The Inquiry Committee considered the terms of the Consent Agreement necessary to protect the public, as well as send a clear message of deterrence to the profession. 

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 32.3(3)(b)(ii) of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily suspend their registration as a pharmacist effective December 12, 2023. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act.

The Inquiry Committee, pursuant to section 32.2(4)(b)(ii) of the Health Professions Act, has reached an Agreement with the pharmacist registrant to voluntarily suspend their registration as a pharmacist effective October 25, 2023. The Agreement remains in effect until further notice. The Inquiry Committee considers the Agreement necessary to protect the public. The pharmacist registrant’s name has been withheld pursuant to section 39.3(4)(a) of the Health Professions Act.