As many state officials threatened legal action, Walgreens announced that it will no longer dispense a popular abortion pill in several states where the pills are still legal.
The company stated that it will not seek FDA approval to distribute mifepristone, the first of two drugs used to induce abortions, by mail or at their physical locations in a number of states where abortions and the medication used to induce them are still legal, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana.
Walgreens informed Politico that all letters issued to the company by state regulators had been answered. Over 20 Republican attorneys general had urged the company not to sell the abortion drug.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach had warned the pharmacy chain that if they attempted to sell the abortion drug in the state, he would sue them. Late last month, Kobach announced that Walgreens had confirmed that the abortion drug would not be sold in Kansas.
The pro-life movement and women’s health have benefited greatly as a result of this, according to Kobach in a statement. Women would face difficulties and possibly coercion if these medications were distributed without the presence of a supervising doctor. I appreciate Walgreens’ prompt and thoughtful response, as well as their commitment to following the law to the letter.
On Twitter, many people have called for a boycott of the company in response to its decision not to sell the abortion drug in states where it is legal.
“When threatened by the right-wing, American women will let [Walgreens] know how we feel about their cowardice. #BoycottWalgreens, “One individual tweeted.
According to a spokesman for Walgreens, the company was aware that certain state laws governing the prescription would prevent it from being prescribed at all of its locations.
“At this moment, we are not giving out Mifepristone. We want to apply for certification as a pharmacy under the program, but we are aware that if we do so, we might not be authorized to administer Mifepristone anywhere “explained the spokeswoman.
According to a statement issued by the FDA earlier this year, retail pharmacies may obtain FDA certification to deliver abortion drugs to customers who have a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. Historically, abortion medicine could only be prescribed and delivered in clinics, doctors’ offices, hospitals, or under the direct supervision of a licensed healthcare professional.
Although it has not stated which states it intends to sell the medicine in, CVS has stated that it intends to go through the certification process in order to offer the abortion pill.
