The two biggest pharmacy chains in the United States, CVS and Walgreens, announced on Friday that they would begin offering abortion pills as early as this month.
Mifepristone, also referred to as the abortion pill, is a prescription medication. In 2000, the FDA authorized mifepristone for use in abortions, ruling it to be a secure and reliable method of ending an unintended pregnancy.
Following regulatory changes made by the Food and Drug Administration last year that permit retail pharmacies to sell the pills, CVS and Walgreens, both told CBS News that they have obtained certification to dispense the medication.
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President Biden praised the pharmacies’ actions, which coincide with restrictions on access to abortion in several U.S. states.
“The stakes could not be higher for women across America,” Biden said in a statement Friday. “I encourage all pharmacies that want to pursue this option to seek certification,” he added.
The pills can’t be mailed; they can only be purchased in person at pharmacies.
In the upcoming weeks, CVS told CBS News it will start distributing the medications at pharmacies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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“Walgreens has completed the FDA certification process to dispense mifepristone and expects to begin dispensing within a week, consistent with federal and state laws,” the company said in a Friday statement to CBS News. “We are beginning a phased rollout in select locations to allow us to ensure quality, safety, and privacy for our patients, providers, and team members.”
In January 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that pharmacies would be permitted to begin providing patients with the abortion pill mifepristone.
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