To address the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the use of a commonly used abortion pill, a Maryland board has approved an emergency procurement of over $1 million, Your Content has learned.
The funds will be used to acquire a stockpile of 35,000 doses of the abortion pill, ensuring its availability for several years if needed.
The procurement, which was approved by the Board of Public Works consisting of Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and Treasurer Dereck Davis, includes 30,000 doses of mifepristone and 5,000 doses of misoprostol.
Governor Moore, a Democrat, emphasized the significance of protecting reproductive freedom, stating that his administration will staunchly defend and safeguard women’s access to essential healthcare in Maryland.
Comptroller Lierman, also a Democrat, highlighted the stockpile as an opportunity for Maryland to affirm its support for women’s reproductive choices and ensure safe reproductive healthcare options.
The decision to establish the stockpile came in response to legal uncertainties surrounding the future availability of mifepristone.
In April, Governor Moore announced an agreement with the University of Maryland Medical System to procure the drug. The move was prompted by a court case in Texas that aimed to limit FDA approval of the abortion pill.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority maintained access to mifepristone during the ongoing appeals process.
This latest development follows the Supreme Court’s controversial decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing numerous states to effectively ban abortion.
By proactively establishing the emergency stockpile, Maryland seeks to ensure continued access to safe reproductive healthcare despite the prevailing legal landscape, according to The Washington Post.
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