COLUMBIA − This week the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) modified a decades-old coverage by authorizing pharmacies to promote abortion drugs. The pharmacies have to undergo a certification course of with a purpose to promote the drugs, which have to be prescribed by a licensed well being supplier.
Main chains CVS and Walgreens introduced they had been going to pursue certification with a purpose to promote the drugs.
Abortion is absolutely banned in Missouri after the Supreme Court docket overturned Roe v. Wade in a court docket determination final summer season.
In an emailed assertion to KOMU 8, Missouri Legal professional Normal Andrew Bailey attacked the FDA’s determination, vowing to “implement the regulation as written.”
“I’ll use each software at my disposal to push again towards the tyranny of unelected bureaucrats in DC,” Bailey mentioned.
Missouri’s regulation states “no abortion shall be carried out or induced upon a lady, besides in instances of medical emergency.” In June, Missouri grew to become the primary state to completely ban abortion when now Sen. Eric Schmitt signed Missouri’s set off regulation into impact.
Professional-Alternative Missouri’s Coverage Supervisor Maggie Olivia applauded the FDA’s determination, calling it lengthy overdue.
“It is actually form of ridiculous that pharmacies on the whole, not to mention two of the biggest pharmacy chains within the nation, CVS and Walgreens, had not been allowed to fill prescriptions,” Olivia mentioned.
Earlier than, the drugs may solely be obtained immediately by way of a well being care supplier and a restricted variety of mail-order pharmacies.
Regardless of praising the transfer, Olivia mentioned Missourians would not be capable of entry the drugs due to the state’s abortion ban.
“The individuals and households of our state are as soon as once more left behind,” Olivia mentioned.
In keeping with the Guttmacher Institute, which helps abortion rights, over 50% of abortions in 2020 had been carried out with a capsule regiment. Mifepristone is essentially the most generally used remedy. It is permitted to be used by way of the primary 10 weeks of being pregnant.
Native pharmacies had been stunned by the coverage shift. KOMU 8 spoke with the homeowners of Circulation’s, Kilgore’s, and D&H pharmacy. All three mentioned they had been nonetheless evaluating how the change will impression their enterprise.