On October 30, 2025, Health Canada officials conducted a raid at Ezra Healing, a wellness clinic in Kelowna, British Columbia, seizing around $200,000 worth of unauthorized health products. This action was part of a broader campaign targeting the sale of unlicensed prescription and controlled drugs, including ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, doxycycline, azithromycin, testosterone, and high-dose vitamin D3 products.
Health Canada emphasized that these substances were being sold without the necessary Drug Identification Numbers (DINs) or licenses, which is illegal under Canadian law. The agency urged the public to immediately stop using any products from Ezra Healing and to only obtain prescription medications from licensed pharmacies to avoid serious health risks.
Ezra Healing, led by Svetlana Rilkoff, a former nurse terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, markets itself as a center for natural and integrative healing, offering services such as personalized detoxification, hormone balancing, and recovery from alleged vaccine injuries. The clinic’s mission is to restore the body’s “divine design” by blending spiritual wellness with functional medicine.
Rilkoff has promoted ivermectin and similar compounds as treatments for cancer and post-COVID conditions. During the raid, she publicly criticized Health Canada, accusing the agency of suppressing alternative medicine and protecting pharmaceutical interests without proper research.
Legally, selling prescription or controlled drugs without authorization in Canada is a criminal offense. Health Canada highlighted the health dangers posed by unauthorized products, which may have inconsistent purity and potency or contain contaminants. The agency is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to block further imports and may pursue additional enforcement actions.
This incident signals a growing tension in Canada between stringent regulatory enforcement and individual health autonomy. While the government aims to safeguard public health by enforcing drug laws, critics argue that such measures can encroach on personal rights to explore alternative treatments.
Though Health Canada’s actions fall within its legal authority, the high-profile seizure and warnings provoke debates about proportionality and state power. Questions arise why widely used drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, approved in certain contexts globally, are treated as contraband when offered by holistic providers.
For supporters of Ezra Healing, the raid represents excessive governmental control over health choices. For regulators, it stands as a necessary step to prevent unsafe drug distribution and misleading health claims. The situation exemplifies a complex interplay between verifying public safety and respecting medical diversity in a post-pandemic regulatory landscape.
Ultimately, this episode reflects a broader division within healthcare: balancing regulatory oversight with respect for informed patient choice and the role of alternative medicine in contemporary wellness. It challenges public health systems to find an approach that protects consumers while honoring individual empowerment and investigational therapeutics under medical supervision.
