Pharmacy giants remove abortion pill from online stores
Sam’s Club has removed the abortion pill mifepristone from its online pharmacy, saying it was placed there in error by a third-party vendor.
“We use a third-party vendor to aggregate medication pricing, and their tool provided incorrect information,” the wholesale giant said in a statement.
The move came days after Kroger, the country’s second-largest grocery chain, also removed mifepristone from its online pharmacy, according to The Washington Stand.
Until last year, an in-person dispensing rule from the FDA meant pharmacies could not sell mifepristone. Women who wanted a chemical abortion could only obtain the pill in clinics, hospitals, and medical offices. When the FDA removed the requirement, the agency was met with legal challenges that were ultimately struck down in June by the US Supreme Court, which sided with the FDA. Walgreens and CVS have since promised to dispense the drug in their pharmacies, but other major chains are holding off.
The drug’s removal by Kroger and Sam’s Club is seen not only as a win for pro-lifers but also as a snub to New York City officials who tried to browbeat corporations into carrying the abortion pill.
Threats to withdraw investments
In July, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander sent letters to Costco, Walmart, Albertsons, McKesson, and Kroger threatening to withdraw New York City pension fund investments unless they start stocking the pill. The pension funds, which hold over $270 billion in assets, own over $1.32 billion in shares among the five retailers.
“By failing to become certified mifepristone dispensers, these pharmacy giants put both women’s reproductive health care and investors money at risk,” Lander said in a press release.
“The boards of Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and McKesson should follow CVS and Walgreens and immediately take the necessary steps to receive certification to dispense the medication mifepristone in states where it is legal. Making mifepristone available benefits customers and employees, increases sales, and generates long-term shareholder value.”
Blowback from comptrollers
In September, the comptrollers of 15 states sent their own letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris condemning Lander for politicizing the company’s business. The comptrollers noted Costco’s own admission that there is little demand for the drug.
“The Comptroller’s actions are clear attempts to politicize Costco’s business without regard for the company’s financial wellbeing,” they wrote. “This radical position ignores all of the business decisions that go into whether to sell a particular product— decisions that should be made by Costco’s leadership based on how it will serve their customers.”
The officials urged Costco to ignore Lander’s threats.
“We find these actions to be inappropriate,” they said. “They are an attempt to launder political views through the commercial marketplace with little regard for the companies or their shareholders.”
