Abortion pills can now be offered at retail pharmacies, F.D.A. Said

Mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in medical abortions, previously had to be dispensed only by clinics, doctors or a few mail-order pharmacies . Now, if local pharmacies or chains like CVS agree to certain rules, they can provide it.

For the first time, retail pharmacies, from corner pharmacies to Major chains like CVS and Walgreens will be allowed to offer abortion pills in the United States under a regulatory change made Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration. This action could significantly expand access to abortion through medication.

So far, mifepristone - the first pill used in the diet two-drug medical abortion - could only be dispensed by a few mail-order pharmacies or specially licensed doctors or clinics. Under the new F.D.A. rules, patients will still need a prescription from a certified health care provider, but any pharmacy that agrees to accept these prescriptions and meet certain other criteria can dispense the pills through their stores and by mail order.

The change comes as abortion pills, already used in more than half of pregnancy terminations in the United States, become even more sought after following the decision of the Supreme Court last year striking down federal abortion rights. With conservative states banning or heavily restricting abortion, the pills are increasingly at the center of political and legal battles, which can influence a pharmacy's decision whether or not to dispense the drug.

The F.D.A. did not post an announcement but updated its website to reflect the decision and added a series of questions and answers. The pill's two makers, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, released statements saying the agency had informed them of the action.

This action is the final step taken by the federal government to expand access to abortion pills by easing some of the restrictions that have applied to mifepristone since its approval in 2000.

In December 2021, the F.D.A. said it would permanently lift the requirement for patients to obtain mifepristone in person from a healthcare provider, a step that paved the way for telemedicine abortion services that perform medical consultations with patients via video, phone or online questionnaires, then arrange for them to receive the prescribed pills by mail.

On Tuesday, the F.D.A. officially removed the in-person requirement from its regulatory rulebook for mifepristone, leaving in place the two remaining requirements: that healthcare providers be certified to show they have the knowledge and ability to treat abortion patients and that patients complete a consent form.

Mifepristone, which blocks a hormone necessary for the development of pregnancy, is approved by the F.D.A. to be taken during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, although many clinics and telemedicine providers have started offering it until 12 or 13 weeks of pregnancy, a step they can legally take because there is scientific evidence that the pills are safe and effective in this sense. delay.

The second drug in the diet, misoprostol, has never been so tightly restricted as mifepristone and is used for many different medical conditions; it is easily obtained at pharmacies through a typical prescription process. Misoprostol, which causes contractions that push out pregnancy tissue, is taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone.

Tuesday's action is the result of a agreement between the F.D.A. and companies that...