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Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens can now fill prescriptions for abortion pills as long as they meet certain requirements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled.
On Tuesday, the FDA made a regulatory change for the first abortion pill, mifepristone, that now allows retail and mail-order pharmacies to fill prescriptions as long as it goes through a certification process. political informed.
Approximately half of the abortions are completed with the two-pill system.
Mifepristone blocks the developmental hormone of pregnancy and is prescribed up to 13 weeks of pregnancy. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract to expel the tissue. The second pill, which is taken up to 48 hours after the first, has never been strictly restricted.
Since the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June 2022, travel times for those seeking abortions have tripled, especially in states with strict restrictions.
Retail pharmacies, such as CVS, can now become certified to dispense mifepristone. Part of the certification process that includes having a person designated to maintain compliance
Mifepristone, unlike its counterpart misoprostol, is only approved for medical abortion care, as well as some miscarriages. It was approved in 2000. Approximately half of abortions are completed using the two-pill system.
Abortion access has become a hot topic after the annulment, with many taking it on the streets (pictured)
Mifepristone, unlike its counterpart, is only approved for medical abortion care, as well as some miscarriages. It was approved in 2000.
Before Tuesday, mifepristone could only be provided to patients by mailing it directly or by picking it up from doctors’ offices.
The regulatory change will open up abortion access to millions of Americans, but it’s unclear which pharmacies will opt in to the new change, considering that many states, like Texas, have implemented restrictive abortion laws.
In order to comply with mifepristone, pharmacies will need to have a designated clerk to ensure compliance, among other requirements that are not typically implemented for other drugs.
However, the companies that make the drug hailed the change as a victory.
Danco, which makes the brand-name product Mifeprex, and GenBioPro, which makes the generic version, jointly filed documents with the FDA requesting that the dispensing process be revised to include pharmacies, according to Politico.
It takes, on average, around 100 minutes to get to an abortion clinic, compared to just 30 minutes in 2021.
Danco Laboratories welcomed the latest change, stating, “At a time when people across the country are struggling to obtain abortion care, this change is vitally important to expanding access to medical abortion services and will provide health care providers an additional method to provide their patients with a safe and effective option to end the pregnancy early.’
GenBioPro CEO Evan Masingill agreed in a statement, saying: “Today’s FDA announcement expands access to medicines that are essential for reproductive autonomy and is a step in the right direction that is especially needed for increase access to abortion care.
The FDA did not issue a statement about the change, but the two companies said the government agency had informed both of them that the website would be updated.
Last year, the agency lifted some restrictions on the pill, excluding the need to pick up the pill in person.
The only requirements still in place include: Health care providers must certify that they understand the drug is used for abortions, and patients must sign a consent form.
It’s unclear which pharmacies will implement the new change, as many states have limited access to abortion since the reversal.
Just before the midterm elections, a report revealed that travel times for abortion have tripled since the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
One of the studies estimated that it now takes about 100 minutes to travel to an abortion clinic on average, compared to just 30 minutes in 2021.
A second report showed that overseas orders for abortion pills have skyrocketed, especially in states like Louisiana and Arkansas, where the operation has been banned.
A third study suggested that depression and domestic violence might increase as a result of unwanted pregnancies.
Since Roe v. Wade, 13 states have banned abortions, while five others have placed restrictions on the procedure.
There were 79,620 abortions in the August numbers, down six percent from April.
Abortions fell to almost zero in states where it was banned or restricted during this period, but rose by nearly 5,000 in those where the procedure was still allowed.