A couple of weeks after Republican attorneys normal in 21 states despatched letters threatening authorized motion towards retail pharmacy chains in the event that they distributed the abortion capsule mifepristone, Walgreens mentioned it could not distribute the capsule in these states.
In January, after the Meals and Drug Administration mentioned it could permit retail pharmacies to grow to be licensed to dispense mifepristone — the tightly regulated medicine that’s the first capsule within the two-drug medicine abortion routine — Walgreens, CVS and different pharmacies mentioned they deliberate to take action in states the place abortion was authorized. The American Pharmacists Affiliation mentioned that pharmacies could be very cautious about meting out in any state the place they may danger shedding their license or face different penalties.
The choice this week by Walgreens displays that warning. In 4 of the states — Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana — abortion is technically nonetheless authorized, however there are efforts to limit it that might apply to abortion capsules.
“This can be a very advanced and in flux space of the regulation, and we’re taking that into consideration as we search certification,” mentioned a spokesman for Walgreens, Fraser Engerman.
He mentioned that Walgreens informed 20 attorneys normal, who had jointly signed one letter, and the lawyer normal of Kansas, who despatched a separate letter, that it could not be distributing mifepristone of their states.
The choice doesn’t have an effect on the second capsule within the medicine abortion routine, misoprostol, which is used for a number of medical situations and has lengthy been out there by prescription at retail pharmacies nationwide.
A spokesman for CVS didn’t instantly reply to a query about whether or not the corporate had additionally determined to not dispense mifepristone in these 21 states, however in January, a spokeswoman mentioned, “We plan to hunt certification to dispense mifepristone the place legally permissible.”
Politico reported the Walgreens choice on Thursday evening. The chain’s choice to not dispense capsules in Kansas was announced last month.
