US Retail Pharmacies Can Now Sell Abortion Pills: What It Means For Restricted States?

In June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling of 1973, which provided constitutional rights to women to opt for abortion. The verdict, which the country’s majority opposed, seeks to ban abortion across several Republican-run states. While the world debated whether or not the Supreme Court ruling was fair, women across the United States took to the streets to make their voices heard and protest against the abortion bans. As the ruling is still under scrutiny with people facing several challenges in accessing abortion healthcare, the Food and Drug Administration in America has now issued a statement saying they would permit retail pharmacies in the country to offer abortion pills. The question is, what happens to the states that remain restricted?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has now permitted retail pharmacies to sell abortion pills in the country for the first time. This step comes after the news of more states seeking to ban abortion medication came to light.

Suggested reading: US Abortion Laws Often Clash With Majority’s Preferences: Here’s Why

US pharmacies to sell abortion pills

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a surprising announcement recently stating that, for the first time, retail pharmacies in the United States will have the right to fill in prescriptions for abortion pills starting now. With this official permission, pharmacies will have the authority to apply for certification to offer the abortion pill mifepristone, provided they use the medication coming from one of the two companies that manufacture it.

The pharmacies can now dispense the dosage directly to the patient post-certification. Mifeprex or Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000. The administration had then approved a generic version of Mifeprex in 2019. The companies that manufacture this drug in the US are GenBioPro and Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro. The FDA approved the move after the two companies submitted supplemental applications through the confirmation process.

"Under the Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS ) Program, as modified, Mifeprex and its approved generic can be dispensed by certified pharmacies or by or under the supervision of a certified prescriber," the agency announced.

Mifeprex's uses vary and are considered a good drug for managing miscarriage. Through a process called medication abortion, the drug induces an abortion up to 10 weeks into pregnancy.

Why it matters?

In today's day and age, when women in the United States are facing constant hurdles one after another o access basic healthcare when it comes to abortion services, the update from the FDA does come as a relief. Expanding medical abortion will, in more ways than one, assist healthcare providers with additional ways they can help current and potential patients with. Medication abortion can be an effective way to terminate early pregnancy and using it the correct way under guidance, therefore, becomes essential now that pharmacies have the leverage to prescribe and sell them.