Providence pharmacy closed by authorities

PROVIDENCE – Prime Drug Inc., a pharmacy at 613 Cranston St., was shut down by the state May 5 after it was allegedly tied to a “medication buy-back scheme” and the re-dispensing of those medications to unassuming patients, the R.I. Department of Health said.
Federal agents arrested one person associated with the pharmacy, and the state health director, Dr. David R. Gifford, issued summary suspensions for three employees: Domenic Colarusso, the pharmacist-in-charge; Carmine A. DeTomasis, a pharmacist; and Carmine D. DeTomasis, a pharmacy technician.
A summary suspension was also issued for the pharmacy’s license, closing the business, and federal agents seized all the medications in the facility, including any medications dispensed and awaiting patient pick-up. Patients will not be able to obtain medication directly from the pharmacy under any circumstances, officials said.
“This is a very serious matter of public health,” Gifford said in a news release. “We have no way of knowing that prescription medications coming from Prime Drug are the correct, prescribed dosage, that they have not expired, or that they have been kept at safe temperatures.” He advised patients not to take any drugs bought at the pharmacy. •