In a landmark decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing pharmacies to dispense the abortion medication mifepristone to women who have prescriptions.
- "A time when people across the country are struggling to obtain abortion care services, this modification is critically important to expanding access to medication abortion services," reads a statement from drug manufacturer Danco, which sells the medication under the brand name Mifeprex. "It will provide healthcare providers with an additional method for providing their patients with a safe and effective option for ending early pregnancy."
- Previously, mifepristone -- which is used to terminate pregnancies in more than half of U.S. abortions -- could be ordered, prescribed and dispensed only by certified health care providers.