Last summer, US President Joe Biden criticized states for trying to limit access to abortion drugs. In response, Biden has directed the Food and Drug Administration to secure access, while “extremist governors and state legislatures” have “blocked emails, searched personal medicine cabinets, and blocked data from the apps you use.” I’m trying to control the behavior of women by tracking them.” was “wrong” with the “majority of Americans” and “out of touch”. Today, the FDA has taken the biggest step toward expanding access to abortion by allowing retail pharmacies to sell medicines via mail order or drugstore.
Previously, Mifepristone was sold only by certain clinics and doctors. But now, under the FDA’s new rules, any pharmacy that wants to sell abortion pills can start by simply hiring a dedicated employee to ensure FDA compliance. Pharmacies with accredited providers can then sell the pills to patients using prescriptions from accredited medical providers. All pharmacies, patients, and prescribers involved must sign a consent form. After that, abortion pills can be discreetly delivered at home. The FDA determined he could safely administer the drug 20 years ago.
FDA has posted a somewhat detailed FAQ on the rule change here.
Medical abortion appears to be emerging as the preferred method in any setting. The nonpartisan group Pew Charitable Trust reported that between 2016 and her 2018, 3.7 million U.S. medical abortion patients completed early pregnancies with minimal complications. did. facility-based abortion.
It is not yet known if major pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens will sell the drug. National chains have to decide whether it is politically worth moving. Because of its nature, it can fuel anger. Walgreens spokeswoman Fraser Engerman told the New York Times that the company is reviewing the FDA’s decision while allowing pharmacists to “dispense medicines that comply with federal and state laws.” He said he would continue.
An official at Danko Laboratories, a company that makes abortion pills, told The Times that it will probably be some time before the big chains start selling abortion pills. Small, independent pharmacies will probably respond most quickly to FDA rule changes, the official said, adding that chain stores must understand the logistics of potentially mass-selling abortion pills. .
As the Biden administration pushes for greater access to abortion drugs in the absence of policies that would codify abortion rights in the United States, Biden believes it is important to protect the privacy of patients and health care providers. emphasizes sexuality.
Danko officials told The Times that FDA privacy concerns could prevent major chains from selling abortion pills. The FDA requires all pharmacies to keep the names of abortion drug prescribers confidential and to limit access to that information to those who fill the prescriptions. So if CVS or Walgreens want to be compliant, they may need to rethink how their company-wide database works.
When asked for comment, an FDA spokesperson directed Ars to a web page containing information about the rule change. One FDA information page says the move is intended to provide more timely access to medicines while reducing “burden on the healthcare delivery system.” The FDA seems to want to expand access quickly, but at the same time, the FDA says that while telemedicine patients can prescribe abortion pills online, it is not safe to buy abortion pills online at this time. I advise my patients to think otherwise. The FDA FAQ states that the FDA has already “sent warning letters to websites selling unapproved and fraudulent brands of mifepristone and misoprostol over the Internet, including AidAccess and Rablon.” .
