Pharmacies Begin Dispensing Abortion Pills
A handful of independent pharmacies across the country have quietly begun dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone under new rules created by the Biden administration earlier this year. A handful of pharmacies are offering the pills 10 months after the Biden administration allowed them to do so, even as a looming Supreme Court case could reimpose restrictions or ban the drugs entirely. Thousands of branches of major pharmacy chains are poised to join them — making the drugs more accessible to millions of people nationwide and kicking off a new phase of the legal and political battle over the most popular method of ending a pregnancy.
Expanding Access to Medication Abortion
The Biden administration in January announced that retail pharmacies could dispense abortion pills, part of a broader push to preserve and expand access to abortion. Mifepristone, along with another drug, misoprostol, is approved through 10 weeks of pregnancy, and is used in more than half of abortions nationwide. Previously, pregnant people had to get the drugs directly from their doctor or have it prescribed via telemedicine and sent by mail, depending on the laws in their state. Though the rollout has been slower and more limited than abortion-rights supporters have wanted, they say it still has the potential to radically alter the landscape, because most people live much closer to their local pharmacy than a doctor’s office or hospital.
Certification of Participating Pharmacies
GenBioPro, the maker of generic mifepristone, published a list this week of 19 pharmacies in nine states certified to dispense the drug. The locations, according to the company, include:
- Independent community pharmacies
- University-affiliated outlets
- Compounders
- A mail-order pharmacy filling prescriptions in several states
Manufacturer and Availability Status
| Company | Role | Certification Activity |
|---|---|---|
| GenBioPro | Maker of generic mifepristone | Published a list of 19 pharmacies in nine states certified to dispense the drug. |
| Danco | Makes the brand-name version of mifepristone | Certified many of the same pharmacies as GenBioPro as well as others. |
Legal Challenges and Professional Perspectives
Anti-abortion groups pledged earlier this year to picket, boycott and organize pressure campaigns targeting pharmacies that dispense the pills. “We are hoping abortion becomes unthinkable and are working towards that in our country,” said Jeanne Mancini, the president of March for Life. However, Evan Masingill, the CEO of GenBioPro, stated that “everyone has a right to access evidence-based health care and safe and effective medicines, and that includes medical abortion.”
Supporting this professional duty, Steve Moore, the owner of Condo Pharmacy, noted: “I’m sure everybody’s got their opinion, but we’re health care professionals who are here to help people get the medication they need when they need it.” A spokesperson for Danco added that the company is “very excited about expanding access to Mifeprex so more patients are able to access the abortion care they need.”