Pharmacy shutdown for alleged violations

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) – Millennium Pharmacy was empty on Wednesday, as the facility faces serious accusations by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

The suspension order issued by the DOH said that by allowing Millennium to keep their license would be, “an imminent threat to the health, welfare and safety of the public.”

The retail pharmacy serves 26 nursing homes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The pharmacy’s president tells Eyewitness News they’re disappointed with the suspension.

The suspension order cites many problems from when the department’s inspectors went to the pharmacy earlier this month.

The DOH claims workers hid misbranded medications from inspectors before they were allowed in, and that prescription pills were put into sandwich baggies or other containers with no information printed on them to say what the pills were or when they expire.

Plus, the DOH claims the staff would redistribute returned medications to patients in nursing facilities.

The company released a statement to defend themselves saying:

“Our own internal investigation, to date, has given us no indication that any medications have been dispensed to cause safety concern for the health and welfare of the patients we serve,” Philip J. Keough IV, President/CEO Millennium.