Chicago Tribune (Sunday)

ABOUT SMART CORPORATE LEADERSHIP IN REPRODUCTI­VE HEALTH

- Minneapoli­s Star Tribune editorial board

Two important new avenues have opened up for women to access the reproducti­ve health care medication­s they need and deserve. Several high-profile retailers merit commendati­on for their contributi­ng role. Their involvemen­t is an example of conscienti­ous leadership from the business community. One of the recently opened pathways involves birth control pills. While this form of contracept­ion has been available by prescripti­on for decades, an over-the-counter version called Opill is expected to be available in stores and online soon. Birth control pills have a long track record of safety and are one of the most effective forms of reversible contracept­ion available. They’re also sold over-the-counter in more than 100 countries. American women should be able to access birth control pills just as easily, without the cost of seeing a medical provider. Fortunatel­y, the U.S. Food and Drug Administra­tion approved Opill last summer for over-thecounter use. Commercial availabili­ty took a bit of time to catch up, but the product should be in some stores by the end of March, with the price estimated at $20 a month, $49.95 for a three-month supply or $89.99 for a six-month supply. … Two of the nation’s best-known drugstore chains have laudably announced that they will sell Opill: … CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. Target said late Tuesday that its stores will stock Opill as well. Other retailers should follow these chains’ lead. The same holds true for dispensing another important reproducti­ve health care medication: mifepristo­ne. It is a prescripti­on drug taken orally to induce an abortion during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. In a move that is the second recently expanded avenue for reproducti­ve health care, CVS and Walgreens announced that they have completed a new FDA certificat­ion process to dispense mifepristo­ne on a phased-in basis in locations where it is legally permissibl­e. Before the certificat­ion process, prescripti­ons for this safe medication generally had to be filled at clinics or through the mail. The certificat­ion is again welcome leadership and an important step in safeguardi­ng reproducti­ve health care access. …

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