US expands access to abortion pills through pharmacies

Pallade Veneta - US expands access to abortion pills through pharmacies

HEALTH 04.01.2023

US expands access to abortion pills through pharmacies / Photo: SCOTT OLSON - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Retail pharmacies in the United States will be permitted to sell abortion pills, health officials said Tuesday, a move that could significantly expand access to the procedure after last year's landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned federal abortion rights.

Change text size:

Regulatory changes announced by the Food and Drug Administration mean that mifepristone, which is the first of two drugs used to terminate a pregnancy, will be available in local drug stores in states where abortion is permitted.

A doctor's prescription will be needed to obtain the pills, which were previously only available from a few mail-order pharmacies or certified doctors and clinics.

Demand for abortion pills has risen since the conservative-dominated Supreme Court made a landmark ruling last June that overturned Roe v. Wade, a 1973 case that had guaranteed women's right to an abortion for half a century.

Abortion pills are already used in more than half of US procedures to terminate a pregnancy, experts say, and they have increasingly become a focus in the political and legal battle for abortion rights since the Supreme Court's controversial decision.

Pharmacies will need to receive certification to dispense the drug, while patients will need to complete a consent form.

The FDA's decision was welcomed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

"We are happy the FDA has increased pharmacy access to this safe and effective medication, relieving one of the agency's needless burdens on mifepristone patients," said Julia Kaye of the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion organization Susan B. Anthony List slammed the decision.

"The Biden administration has once again proved that it values abortion industry profits over women's safety and unborn children's lives," Dannenfelser said in a statement.

O.Pileggi--PV

Seacliff Healthcare Seeks Specialist GP in Thirroul

Seacliff Healthcare, located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, is seeking a Specialist General Practitioner to join its team. The practice, situated near Thirroul village station, currently supports five GPs and has capacity for additional medical staff with onsite pathology and allied health services.

India proposes more import entry points for drugs and medical devices

New Delhi The Union Health Ministry has proposed expanding the network of authorised import gateways for drugs, medical devices and cosmetics by adding several inland container depots, a special economic zone and an international airport to facilitate faster clearance and improve supply chain efficiency. The proposed amendment to Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, seeks to include additional entry points in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and Karnataka, as reported by a gazette notification issued by the

Why Pregnancy Cost Estimates Fail: A Family’s $9,000 Surprise

Grace Griffin thought she had calculated her pregnancy expenses accurately until bills exceeded $9,000—more than triple her insurer’s estimate. Her experience highlights a systemic failure in healthcare transparency, as federal rules designed to provide accurate cost predictions remain unimplemented. With maternity billing codes set to change next year, experts urge parents to master insurance details and verify every bill.

Kuwait inspectors destroy 115 kilograms of unverified meat in Farwaniya

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) issued nine violation reports and destroyed 115 kilograms of meat of unknown origin during an inspection tour of food establishments in Farwaniya Governorate, the authority announced on Monday. The tour was carried out by the authority’s Farwaniya food inspection department.