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Health Canada has seized a range of unauthorized health products from a Kelowna business whose owner claimed the products were “healing cancer.” In a statement to Black Press Media on Wednesday (Nov. 5), Health Canada confirmed that it inspected Ezra Healing in Kelowna on Oct. 30 in response to allegations of non-compliance with the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. During the inspection, Health Canada seized a range of unauthorized health products, including unauthorized prescription drugs such as ivermectin, mebendazole, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The owner of the business, Svetlana Rilkoff, took to social media during the inspection to say that Health Canada wanted to “take away all of my ivermectin that’s healing cancer and vaccine injuries.” Rilkoff’s Facebook describes herself as a registered nurse for 20 years, turned wellness advocate. She posted a news release the day after the inspection, claiming approximately $200,000 worth of products were seized. Health Canada added in the statement that “selling unauthorized products or making false or misleading claims to prevent, treat, or cure illnesses is illegal in Canada.” A 2021 public advisory from Health Canada says that ivermectin – veterinary or human versions – is not authorized to prevent or treat COVID-19 and may cause serious health problems. The advisory was updated Oct. 19, 2021, following reports to poison centres regarding ivermectin being used as a prevention or treatment for COVID-19. The advisory added that while ivermectin was authorized by Health Canada for human use as a prescription antiparasitic drug for the treatment of parasitic worm infections, there is “no evidence that ivermectin works to prevent or treat COVID-19.” Ivermectin is also not listed on Health Canada’s webpage for cancer therapies. Health Canada said it “actively monitors” compliance and receives information from a variety of sources, including consumers, health-care professionals, businesses and company notifications about recalls or incidents. It can also be alerted to issues through referrals from federal or provincial regulatory bodies, input from international regulatory partners and information published in media reports. The statement does not say how Health Canada was alerted to the claims from Ezra Healing.
