Complaints from physicians at two Calgary social service agencies were central to an investigation that resulted in a Sunalta pharmacist being disciplined for professional misconduct involving methadone prescriptions and false pharmacy records. Wei (David) Ruan, who was the owner and licensee of eRx Pharmacy at the time of the misconduct, admitted to five allegations of unprofessional conduct before an Alberta College of Pharmacy hearing tribunal on July 27, 2026. The tribunal found Ruan had changed methadone dosages or dispensing arrangements without advising or obtaining authorization from prescribing physicians. He also admitted to creating or allowing the creation of false pharmacy and Alberta Netcare records, including documentation of medication dispensing that had not occurred. The findings are contained in the college’s 31-page disciplinary decision, issued Aug. 25. Investigation began with physicians’ complaints The investigation began in September 2025, months before neighbourhood safety concerns outside the pharmacy attracted media attention. According to an agreed statement of facts accepted by the tribunal, the college received a complaint on Sept. 19, 2025, from a physician serving as associate medical lead at the Calgary Urban Project Society, commonly known as CUPS. The physician raised concerns about changes to the dosing and dispensing of medications used in opioid agonist therapy without the prescribing physicians’ knowledge. The complaint also alleged that Ruan had created false pharmacy and Netcare records documenting medication dispensing that had not occurred. The college appointed investigators on Sept. 23. A week later, on Sept. 30, the college received additional concerns from the medical director of the Calgary Drop-In Centre. Those included reports that the pharmacy had provided patients with take-home methadone doses without authorization from prescribing physicians. The origins of both complaints are documented in the agreed statement of facts. The tribunal subsequently accepted Ruan’s admissions and made findings of unprofessional conduct. False records and unauthorized dispensing The misconduct involved multiple patients receiving opioid agonist therapy. Among the allegations Ruan admitted was providing a patient with take-home methadone doses despite prescription instructions requiring daily witnessed ingestion. He also admitted to engaging in or permitting practices in which pharmacy staff did not report missed methadone doses to prescribing physicians. The pharmacy’s records did not consistently document important information, including when doses were administered, whether take-home medication was supplied, the identity of pharmacists witnessing ingestion and patients’ reasons for missing doses. The tribunal also found Ruan had prescribed benzodiazepines without documenting patient assessments or whether their use alongside methadone was appropriate. He further admitted to extending methadone prescriptions for up to 18 months without obtaining assessments from the original prescribers or documenting his own assessments. The agreed statement of facts indicates the original prescriber had acknowledged certain prescription extensions, but the required assessments and documentation were not completed. The tribunal concluded the repeated failures put patient safety and continuity of care at risk. It found that inaccurate dispensing records, inadequate assessments and a failure to communicate treatment changes undermined safeguards intended to protect patients receiving opioid agonist therapy. Pharmacist acknowledges damage to public trust In a signed admission of unprofessional conduct, Ruan acknowledged that his actions went beyond failures involving individual prescriptions and patient records. The agreed statement of facts contained in the Alberta College of Pharmacy’s disciplinary decision states: “Mr. Ruan agrees and acknowledges that his conduct in this matter: “a. breached his statutory and regulatory obligations to the Alberta College of Pharmacy as an Alberta pharmacist and pharmacy licensee; “b. undermined the integrity of the profession; “c. decreased the public’s trust in the profession; and “d. failed to exercise the professional and ethical judgment expected and required of an Alberta pharmacist.” The tribunal accepted Ruan’s admission of misconduct and found that his actions involved repeated failures to comply with professional standards governing the treatment of patients receiving opioid agonist therapy. It concluded that the misconduct created a meaningful risk to patient safety and continuity of care. The tribunal emphasized the importance of accurate dispensing records, appropriate patient assessments and communication between pharmacists and prescribing physicians. Previous neighbourhood safety concerns In March, CTV News reported concerns from businesses in Calgary’s Sunalta neighbourhood about drug use and disturbing behaviour near eRx Pharmacy. Read CTV News’ earlier report about neighbourhood safety concerns. The professional misconduct investigation began approximately six months before that reporting. The college’s disciplinary findings concern prescribing, dispensing, patient records and professional responsibilities. The decision makes no finding that Ruan’s admitted misconduct caused or contributed to the neighbourhood disturbances reported in March. Prescribing authorization suspended The hearing tribunal issued Ruan a reprimand and suspended his additional prescribing authorization until he completes several professional improvement requirements. Those include successfully completing the college’s Practice Improvement Program, its Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam and the Centre for Personalized Education for Professionals PROBE course. Ruan was ordered to complete the PROBE course within six months of the tribunal’s decision. Failure to provide evidence of successful completion within that period would result in the suspension of his general pharmacist practice permit until the requirement is met. The tribunal also ordered a condition on his practice permit preventing him from acting as a pharmacy licensee until the required professional improvement measures are completed. That condition was ordered to take effect no later than 60 days after the July 27 hearing. For five years, Ruan must provide a copy of the disciplinary decision to any pharmacy employer or licensee of a pharmacy where he provides professional services. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 toward the costs of the hearing, payable over 24 months. The tribunal accepted a joint submission on sanctions from the college and Ruan’s lawyer, Justin Haack, although it said it would have imposed more significant penalties without the agreement. In determining the sanctions, the tribunal considered Ruan’s admission of wrongdoing, co-operation with investigators, potential for rehabilitation and the absence of previous findings of unprofessional conduct against him. His lawyer also told the tribunal that Ruan had been dealing with his father’s illness and death during part of the period at issue. Haack submitted that while the misconduct created the potential for patient harm, there was no evidence of actual harm. The tribunal concluded the sanctions would protect the public while giving Ruan an opportunity to demonstrate that he could resume greater professional responsibilities. The full Alberta College of Pharmacy disciplinary decision involving Wei (David) Ruan is available online.
