Former Melita pharmacy manager found guilty of over a dozen counts, fined $5K

Pills pour out of a prescription medication bottle (Photographer: DNY59/iStockphoto)

The former manager of a pharmacy in Melita has been found guilty of professional misconduct on over a dozen counts by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba and has been fined $5,000 with costs.

A decision from the college’s discipline committee says that Peter Kovac failed on multiple occasions to appropriately check prescriptions and failed to ensure that all “unexplained shortages” of drugs were properly reported while operating Melita Super Thrifty Pharmacy.

The disciplinary decision, dated July 18, also says that Kovac allowed narcotic medications such as fentanyl to be dispensed without determining “whether there was an actual or potential drug-related problem.”

The decisions say Kovac was found guilty of 14 counts related to incidents between 2020 and 2022, in contravention with multiple sections of regulatory documents.

He was said to have also failed to appropriately train and supervise pharmacy assistants and failed to ensure pharmacists were present during posted business hours.

“Between 2021 and 2022, (Kovac) permitted an unauthorized person or persons with access to the dispensary without the appropriate supervision of a pharmacist,” reads the decision.

The discipline committee said Kovac failed to cooperate with the college and has been “largely unresponsive” after his actions were brought to their attention. A complaint was received by the college on April 26, 2022, and an interim suspension on Kovac’s practicing licence was implemented the same day.

Kovac was also ordered to pay $20,000 as part of the costs of the investigation and hearing. That amount represents “only a small percentage” of the college’s anticipated costs, reads the college’s decision.

“Although Kovac was suspended and subsequently decided to avoid all communications from the college, it is important to stress… that ignoring the college and walking away from the profession will not absolve a member of the consequences of their previous actions.”

A spokesperson with the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba confirmed that Kovac no longer has a licence to practice pharmacy in the province.

Kovac could not be reached for comment.