CVS And Walgreens Pharmacies Will Soon Dispense Mifepristone

(CTN News) – CVS Health and Walgreens are expected to begin dispensing abortion pills in a few states within the next few weeks.

According to CVS Health spokesperson Amy Thibault, the company plans to begin filling prescriptions for mifepristone in Rhode Island and neighboring Massachusetts “in the weeks to come.”

According to Walgreens’ spokesman Fraser Engerman, the pharmacy will begin dispensing the medication within a week. Starting with some locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois, the chain will expand across the country.

In his remarks, he explained that the company is launching in a limited number of locations to ensure the quality, safety and privacy of its patients, providers, and team members.

According to Thibault, CVS Health will add states “where allowed by law, on a rolling basis.”

Retailers’ plans were first reported by the New York Times.

The largest drugstore chain in the country, CVS Health Corp., operates nearly 9,400 stores. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. is estimated to have approximately 8,700 stores across the country.

President Biden noted that the announcements on Friday marked “an important milestone” in ensuring access to mifepristone. It is anticipated that many women will soon be able to pick up their prescriptions at a local, certified pharmacy in the same way they would pick up any other medication.

“I strongly encourage all pharmacies interested in pursuing this option to apply for certification,” he stated.

CVS and Walgreens’ actions follow more than a year after the FDA issued a rule change that expanded access to abortion pills to a greater number of pharmacies, including large chains and mail-order operations.

When used with a second drug, misoprostol, the FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 for the termination of pregnancies up to ten weeks gestation.

Mifepristone dilates the cervix and blocks progesterone, which is necessary for a successful pregnancy. Approximately 24 to 48 hours later, misoprostol is CVS administered, which causes the uterus to contract and expel pregnancy tissue.

Mifepristone’s approval has been challenged by conservative groups seeking to reverse it or roll back policies that have made it easier to obtain. The Supreme Court is weighing a challenge from conservative groups.

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