Some popular pharmacy chains in the United States this week limited the purchase of emergency contraception productscommonly known as the “morning after pill”, due to the high demand that was generated after the federal veto of the right to abortion dictated by the Supreme Court of that country.
(Also read: Disney and more companies that will cover travel costs for staff to abort)
The increase in demand came after the historic ruling of the Court last Friday, which returned to the states the power to legislate or prohibit the interruption of pregnancy, which has led to numerous states that have already outlawed or are studying to ban this practice soon. .
Until Friday, the historic ruling Roe vs. Wade, of 1973, enshrined the right of women to abortion, preventing states from prohibiting this practice.
Chains that have limited their sale
The product, which can be easily found under the brand name “Plan B” and purchased for about $50 without a prescription, was restricted to three units per customer at Rite Aid, which has 2,500 pharmacies in the US, “due to increased demand,” a spokeswoman said by mail.
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In CVS pharmacies, which has some 9,900 stores throughout the country, there was a “sharp increase in sales” of this product immediately after the Supreme Court ruling last Friday.
Therefore, the pharmacy chain reported this Monday that temporarily limits sale of morning-after pills to three boxes per person to avoid a possible shortage.
“To ensure equitable access and consistent supply on store shelves, we have implemented a temporary purchase limit of three (boxes) on these products,” the CVS statement said.
The company added that it is already “in the process of lifting purchase limits, which will take effect in stores and on CVS.com in the next 24 hours.” “We continue to have a large supply of emergency contraception to meet client needs,” they added.
According to The Wall Street JournalThe supermarket chain Walmart was also limiting sales of morning-after pills to four or six for orders to be delivered by the end of this month, but not for July shipments.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Walgreens, another chain that has about 9,000 pharmacies, said that it has not put any impediments to its purchase so far.
“Walgreens can still respond to demand in stores … or door pickup. Right now, we’re working on replenishing inventory ‘online’ for home delivery,” a spokeswoman said by mail.
(Also: Why did the US go back 50 years after ruling on abortion?)
Emergency contraception is not an abortion method, but it reduces the probability of pregnancy after unprotected sex, something that can happen voluntarily or involuntarily, when common contraceptive methods, such as birth control pills or condoms, fail.
And about abortion pills
At the same time, fearing the restrictions that the Supreme Court ruling may trigger, the US Department of Health and Human Services recalled this week that sending abortion pills prescribed by a doctor through the mail is allowed by law, although many states prohibit telemedicine abortion consultations.
“Abortive medications are the standard treatment when a pregnant woman suffers a spontaneous abortion,” explained the Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra, during an appearance before the media to explain the plans of his department after the Supreme Court ruling that eliminates the protection legal to the termination of pregnancy in force in the US for 50 years.
Becerra stated that this “unfortunate” decision will result in a worsening of health and even the death of some patients, for which his office will coordinate with the Department of Justice to try to ensure that states cannot prohibit access to abortion medications.
Currently, abortion medication is included among the health services offered by Medicaid, the US government’s public health insurance program for people in need, but only under the assumptions of rape, incest or when the life of the victim is in danger. Mother.
In response to the Supreme Court ruling, the Department of Health has promised to take measures to “increase access” to abortion medications, Becerra said.
(You can read: Abortion in the US: the states that have already prohibited it after the Court’s ruling)
The Department of Health has committed to taking steps to increase access to abortion medications
“This is a time of crisis in healthcare. We will remove heaven and earth“, assured the head of the American Health, adding that “all options are on the table” in order to ensure women’s access to reproductive services after the Supreme Court ruling.
Following Becerra’s statements, the Department of Health issued a circular reminding women that they have the right to access free contraceptive medications under most health insurance programs.
In addition, the office indicated that women who need it can apply for private aid to finance their trip to states where abortion is legal through the AbortionFinder.org website.
*With information from EFE and AFP
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