BULK retailing giant Costco has agreed to pay US$11.75 million in fines to resolve claims that some of its pharmacies in America had violated federal regulations by dispensing "improper or incomplete prescriptions for controlled substances".
Under the settlement Costco acknowledged that between 2012 and 2015 some of its pharmacies filled scripts that lacked valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) numbers; filled scripts outside the scope of some doctors' DEA registrations; and failed to maintain accurate dispensing records.
"Costco's failure to have proper controls in place in its pharmacies played a role in prescription drugs reaching the black market," said US Attorney Eileen Decker.
The settlement agreement also allows DEA officials to conduct unannounced and unrestricted inspections at all Costco pharmacies for the next three years.
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