Sixteen Saskatchewan Pharmacists and pharmacies have been fined after submitting false information to the provincial drug plan.

The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists have been attempting to put a stop to a practice called "DIN spinning" in which pharmacists submit incorrect prescription information to the Health Ministry--sometimes to earn financial perks and discounts or to clean out unwanted stock.

The college began hearing allegations of pharmacists DIN spinning in 2009 and issued a warning that it was unacceptable and dangerous. If a specific brand of drug was recalled and a pharmacy's records were wrong patients would never know if they were taking the recalled drug.

The college shared it's suspicions with the Saskatchewan drug plan and extended health benefits branch, which began it's own investigation by tracking the movement of one specific medication.

The Saskatchewan drug plan buys only specific brands (SOC) and other brands cannot be used unless specifically stated by the prescribing doctor. However, these pharmacies were buying unapproved brands and entering either an SOC brand into their computer or "no sub" in order to be able to sell these competition brands.

In early 2010, the college of pharmacists charged 14 pharmacists and the owners of 15 pharmacies with professional and proprietary misconduct. Collectively, the pharmacists were fined $46,500 and pharmacies were dinged a combined $165,000. Both were also compelled to cover the prosecutions legal costs, a total of $114,610.

The charged pharmacists and pharmacies are:
-Nicklas Voelk, Moose Jaw Co-op Pharmacy, Moose Jaw
-Scott Brownlee, Carrot River Pharmacy, Carrot River
-Jack Mullock, College Avenue Drugs, Regina
-Robin Sander, Pharmasave Central Avenue, Saskatoon
-Lori Unrau, Pharmasave Idylwyld, North Saskatoon
-Pinehouse Plaza Pharmacy, 3 Pharmasave locations, Saskatoon
-Bear Drugs Pharmasave, Bear Drug Ltd., Saskatoon
-Ryan Bruck, Bear Drugs, Saskatoon
-Tricia Glines, McKay's Arcola Pharmacy, Arcola
-Sandra Dufour, Sandy's Pharmacy & Alternative Health Care, Meadow Lake
-Delee Foley, Bengough Drugs, Bengough
-Colin McLeod, Eston Pharmacy, Eston
-Mel Wandzura, Mel's Pharmacy, Craik