U.S. grocery chain Kroger said Friday said it will carry emergency contraceptive Plan B in its stores even if individual pharmacists object.
Noting that it believes medications are a private patient matter, Kroger released a statement saying, Our role as a retail pharmacy operator is to furnish medication using applicable professional standards in accordance with a doctor’s prescription or as requested by a customer.
The company’s pronouncement was prompted by a reported incident in Rome, Ga., in which a Kroger pharmacist refused to sell Plan B to a customer.
Kroger said in its statement, If, for whatever reason, an individual pharmacist objects to furnishing this or any other medication, our policy is to find a way to accommodate the customer. We are taking additional steps to make certain that all of our pharmacy teams have a clear understanding of this policy.
Last fall the Food and Drug Administration approved Plan B for over-the-counter sales for women aged 18 and older, with younger women still requiring a prescription to gain access to the drug, also called the morning after pill.
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