Costco will not sell the abortion pill Mifepristone, citing low demand—a move praised by conservative and religious groups, according to Bloomberg. While Costco didn’t confirm the influence of activist pressure, critics say the decision limits access to FDA-approved care. The debate reflects growing national tensions over abortion access and medication restrictions. They write:
Costco Wholesale Corp. has decided not to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone at its more than 500 pharmacy locations, a decision hailed by a group of faith-based activists who urged the retailer to avoid selling the drug.
Costco said in a statement that it hasn’t seen consumer demand for the pill, and had no comment on whether the conservative group had any role in its decision. […]
He said the group will now focus on Walgreens Boots Alliance and CVS Health Corp., which dispense mifepristone in pharmacies in states where abortion is legal.
As more states have passed laws restricting or banning abortion, more women have sought a mifepristone prescription online; the product is then mailed. Those orders now account for about a quarter of abortions in the US, from 5% before the 2022 US Supreme Court ruling that overturned abortion rights nationally. Eight states where abortion is legal have passed so-called shield laws that protect physicians from legal action if they prescribe mifepristone to a patient in a state with an abortion ban.
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