The sale of abortion pills will be allowed in pharmacies in the United States, health officials announced on Tuesday (January 3rd), a measure that could significantly expand access to abortion after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturning its federal protection.
Changes announced by the US Drug Administration (FDA) will allow mifepristone, the first of two drugs used by abortion clinics to end a pregnancy, to be available in pharmacies in states where abortion is authorized.
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A doctor’s prescription will be needed to obtain these pills, which were previously only available at a few online pharmacies or from licensed doctors or clinics.
Used in more than half of abortions
Demand for abortion pills has grown since the conservative-dominated Supreme Court last June issued a landmark judgment overturning the Roe v Wade decision, which had guaranteed women’s right to abortion for half a century.
According to experts, abortion pills are already used in more than half of pregnancy termination procedures in the United States. They are increasingly at the center of the political and legal battle for the right to abortion.
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It will be up to pharmacies – which will need to be certified to show they have the knowledge and ability to treat abortion patients – to decide whether or not to accept prescriptions. Patients will also need to complete a consent form.
“A safe and effective drug”
The FDA’s decision was welcomed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
“We are pleased that the FDA has expanded pharmacy access to this safe and effective drug, easing one of the agency’s unnecessary burdens for patients using mifepristone.”commented Julia Kaye, an attorney for the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.
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Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion organization Susan B. Anthony List, for her part criticized the decision. “The Biden administration has once again proven that it prioritizes the profits of the abortion industry over the safety of women and the lives of unborn children”she said in a statement.
