A recent CBC News investigation has uncovered an alleged drug kickback scheme involving an East Vancouver pharmacy and local drug addicts. According to the report, drug addicts are being paid off to fill their provincially-funded methadone prescriptions in exchange for cash. The bribe generally amounts to ten dollars, the same price as a rock of crack cocaine.

In British Columbia, methadone prescriptions for drug addicts are covered by the provincial drug plan and pay pharmacists a dispensing fee of $16.30 per prescription. This can translate into a lucrative enterprise for pharmacies that service a high volume of customers.

The CBC report also indicated that the owner of the pharmacy operates a nearby hotel, and, as a condition of tenancy, residents must be members of the provincial methadone program and are required to fill all their prescriptions at this particular pharmacy.

The BC Ministry of Health has stated that this type of alleged incentive scheme is prohibited under the provincial legislation governing the methadone program and that they will be looking into the matter.