CVS and Walgreens, the United States’ top two pharmacy chains, have announced plans to offer the abortion medication mifepristone at select store locations across various states, a move that has garnered support from President Joe Biden. He commended the initiative and encouraged more pharmacies nationwide to obtain certification to distribute the medication.
This development follows amidst impending legal proceedings in Texas, where anti-abortion advocates and medical professionals have raised objections against the medication, challenging its legality. This issue is poised for Supreme Court review, following the landmark 2022 decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, diminishing federally recognized abortion rights.
President Biden highlighted the importance of this step towards securing mifepristone access, emphasizing the ongoing political struggle surrounding reproductive rights. He lauded the proactive stance taken by these pharmacy giants in the face of “incessant challenges to reproductive autonomy by some political figures.”
Both CVS and Walgreens had previously indicated their intentions to stock mifepristone, aligning with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) updated guidelines that permit retail pharmacies to sell the drug. Walgreens is set to commence sales shortly in states like New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. Concurrently, CVS plans to start providing the medication in Massachusetts and Rhode Island soon, with intentions to extend availability to other eligible states progressively.
