House Democrats have called on major retail pharmacies, including Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, and Health Mart, to publicly commit to selling the prescription abortion pill mifepristone at their retail pharmacies. Currently, pending lawsuits have put mifepristone’s approval in the US at risk, even though it is the most common method for terminating pregnancy in the country.
These five companies have remained silent for months on whether they will be certified to sell mifepristone under the FDA’s monitoring program for the medication’s distribution and usage. Representative Dan Goldman of New York stated that it is unacceptable for these major retail pharmacies to refuse to declare their intentions to provide FDA-approved medication abortion healthcare.
Reps. Goldman and Judy Chu of California have sent a letter to the CEOs of these companies, asking them to confirm by June 23 whether their pharmacies will be certified to sell the abortion pill. Over 50 other Democratic lawmakers have also signed the letter, expressing their concern for the companies’ continued silence, which contradicts their publicly stated values of equal access to healthcare and gender equality.
The issue of abortion access has put major retail pharmacies in a difficult position, as more than a dozen states have banned abortion following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In January, as conservative states implemented abortion bans, the FDA expanded access to mifepristone by allowing retail pharmacies to dispense the medication for the first time if they receive certification. CVS and Walgreens initially announced their intention to get certified, but faced backlash from Republican state attorneys general who fear that easier access to mifepristone, especially by mail, will undermine their restrictive abortion laws.
Walgreens, in response to the attorneys general, confirmed that they would not sell mifepristone in their states, leading California Governor Gavin Newsom to refuse to renew a state contract with Walgreens. The future of mifepristone as an FDA-approved medication remains uncertain, even in states where abortion is still legal. A group of doctors opposed to abortion sued the FDA to remove mifepristone from the US market, and a federal judge in Texas ruled in their favor in April, suspending the FDA’s approval.
The case is now in the hands of the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and a ruling could be issued at any time. If the appeals court rules against mifepristone, it is likely that the case will be taken back to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, House Democrats are urging major retail pharmacies to take a stand and publicly commit to selling mifepristone at their pharmacies, ensuring access to safe and legal abortion healthcare.
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