Moose Jaw pharmacist who took $705K in gifts from drug manufacturer ordered to pay $19K

A Moose Jaw pharmacist who accepted $705,150.98 worth of prepaid Visa cards, retail gift cards and American Express certificates from generic drug manufacturer, Pharmascience, between 2005 and 2013 has been fined by the College of Pharmacy Professionals for professional misconduct.

Niklas Voelk has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $14,000 to cover some of the costs of the College's investigation and hearing. He has until Dec. 1 2019 to pay or he risks having his licence to practice suspended.

Voelk must also report his discipline to all employers and licensees for the next three years. Voelk was employed by Moose Jaw Co-op during the time he had accepted what he felt were gifts until he was fired in Oct. 2015.

It was the general manager of the co-op, Gerry Onyskevitch, who complained to the College of Pharmacy Professionals. In September 2015, Voelk and his accountant met with Onyskevitch.

Voelk — who had become "uncomfortable" — spoke to the general manager and "admitted that he had been accepting prepaid credit cards from Pharmascience and that the amounts were substantial."

Under the old version of The Pharmacy Act, the $5,000 fine Voelk received was the maximum.

A newer version of the act was proclaimed in 2015 which allows fines up to $100,000, according to college registrar Jeana Wendel.

"In order to receive the maximum fine at that time ...  it didn't happen often," Jeana Wendel said of the $5,000 fine.

Voelk was told by a Pharmascience representative that the cards were gifts, and they were standard practice in the industry. He was also told by a former accountant the cards were also not taxable.

No one from the drug manufacturer was called as a witness during the proceedings but the College stated it had an idea of what would be said, if it had come to that. 

"It is anticipated that a Pharmascience witness would state that Pharmascience does not provide rebates or any other benefits to pharmacists for their personal benefit. Further, Pharmascience sales representatives do not deliver any such rebates or benefits to individuals but instead, the head office of Pharmascience mails or couriers directly to the pharmacy manager," the disciplinary decision states. 

"Mr. Voelk requested Pharmascience to always call him in advance before shipping any envelopes. The Pharmascience witness would also testify that incentives are directly linked to sales purchased calculated on a monthly basis."

Documents provided to the College showed the amounts of the cards which had been sent to Voelk:

• 2005 - $15,901.20
• 2006 - $27,912.82
• 2007 - $37,859.50
• 2008 - $55,042.20
• 2009 - $77,613.65
• 2010 - $107,753.78
• 2011 - $97,144.92
• 2012 - $164,439.08
• 2013 - $121,483.83

He was fired a month later. Moose Jaw Co-op also filed a complaint with the Moose Jaw Police Service. Voelk was charged with fraud and theft and was committed to trial.

But in May 2018, the Crown stayed the charges against him. He's still practicing and is now employed at the Medicine Shoppe. His lawyer declined to comment.

CBC has contacted Moose Jaw Co-op.