Wal-Mart must stock contraception in Mass

modbee ^ | 2-14-06

[LouAvul]

BOSTON (AP) - The state board that oversees pharmacies voted Tuesday to require Wal-Mart to stock emergency contraception pills at its Massachusetts pharmacies, a spokeswoman at the Department of Public Health said.

The unanimous decision by the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy comes two weeks after three women sued Wal-Mart in state court for failing to carry the so called "morning after" pill in its Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the state.

The women argue state policy requires pharmacies to provide all "commonly prescribed medicines."

The board has sent a letter to Wal-Mart lawyers informing them of the decision, said health department spokeswoman Donna Rheaume. Wal-Mart has until Thursday to provide written compliance.

Dan Fogleman, a spokesman for Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart, said the company hadn't heard about the decision, but would comply with any order.

[LouAvul]

Well, so much for "free" enterprise.

[trubluolyguy]

The state board that oversees pharmacies voted Tuesday to require Wal-Mart to stock emergency contraception pills at its Massachusetts pharmacies, a spokeswoman at the Department of Public Health said.

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This is where quite frankly if I am the President of Wal-Mart, I pull every single store out of Massachussetts laying off hundreds.

They can thank their politicians who do nnot believe in the term PRIVATE BUSINESS.

[sandbar]

It's karma. Get cheap land for your superWalmarts, got to bow to the government.

[SmoothTalker]

I don't understand how the government can make a private bussiness stock a product it doesn't want to.

[rhombus]

It's karma. Get cheap land for your superWalmarts, got to bow to the government.

There is no cheap land in Massachusetts.

[GSlob]

Since to enterprise as a pharmacist requires having a state license, and since that license is granted by the state on certain conditions, "free enterprise" argument does not apply, and has not applied for quite a while.

[Potowmack]

This would be like demanding that the Muslim-owned corner store near you stock beer, or the Jewish-owned deli sell bacon.

[finallyatexan]

My exact thoughts !!!

[lonerepubinma]

What about the pharmacies that will not stock Oxycontin because of all the holdups ??

[DBrow]

But the pill is not prescribed, it's OTC, right?

This is a terrible blow to free enterprise, all for PC reasons.

[phil1750]

Walmart also sells music CD's. They should be required to stock all CD's ever put out by Michael Jackson the pedophile.(sarcasm off)

[MichiganConservative]

It's amazing how people actually believe we still live in a free country. But it would be nice to see Wal-Mart pull out of the state and set up right outside the MA border.

[Malsua]

Simple solution, stock 1 bottle, cost is $5000 a pill.

[rhombus]

This is where quite frankly if I am the President of Wal-Mart, I pull every single store out of Massachussetts laying off hundreds.

As a first step, they could close the pharmacies. Most on the North Shore travel to NH to avoid sales tax anyway.

[MineralMan]

"But the pill is not prescribed, it's OTC, right?
"

Nope. It's still a prescription medication, although there are folks who want it to be OTC.

[dangus]

Contraception in mass? What the hell kind of church is that?

[dangus]

Forgot this:

[/duh]

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Always a gay time in Mitt Romneyland.

[BarbM]

Isn't there any other place in Mass. where a person fixing to kill their just conceived baby, could buy the morning after pill? Only at Walmart?

[DBrow]

I think the message being sent is one of power and coercion, not one of convenience or availability.