Aug 14 (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale (COST.O) , said on Thursday it will stop selling abortion pill mifepristone across all its U.S. pharmacy stores, citing low demand.
“Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers,” Costco said, adding that it will stop the sale at its more than 500 pharmacies.
The decision comes amid campaigns against the pill by religious activist groups, including Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom.
“Many retailers have become more cautious about taking overt political or social stances after recent controversies triggered boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions,” said Arun Sundaram, senior analyst at CFRA.
It’s probably not even sales.
It’s an off-patent, mass-produced medicine (read: cheap) with multiple uses, not just abortions.
There are a bunch of medicines that are both patented (i.e. expensive) and with way lower demand. In other words: less profitable.
So my reading of this: low demand is an outright lie. They’re not carrying on the off-chance the fact they carry it becomes a burden.
And what makes you think Costco carries them?
There are a bunch of medicines that Costco has never carried, not just mifepristone.
First of all: Am European. Neber stepped foot in the US, nor do I plan anytime soon given the current situation.
Second: With a name like “Costco Pharmacy” or “Target Pharmacy”, I can only compare it to the stores here at home.
And here, pharmacies are usually seperate establishments. Some superstores, however, do have a pharmacy inside.
And it really is a pharmacy that just so happens to be inside of a store. It isn’t like your run of the mill isle. It has its pharmacists - it can’t dispense perscription-only medicine without them.
And since they pay healthcare professionals to essentially cosplay as store clerks, they have to pay them well. So the biggest cost is most likely the personnel.
Also, like any regular pharmacy they do carry any “regular” medicine. The uber-regular stuff like paracetamol and aspirin you’d find on regular shelves. Regular stuff requiring a consult is availiable OTC and prescription only drugs are availiable with a prescription.
And pharmacies, including in-store ones do carry everything reasonably possible. The rest is availiable upon request - they’ll order it for you if you ask.
So not carrying a specific cheap and reasonably popular drug is a tell, and asking a clerk with a valid prescription would also probably yield a “we don’t do that here” about ordering some to fill the prescription.
At least that’s how it’s done in Europe. And at Target from what I’ve heard. So then why would Costco be any different?
They certainly carry plenty of cheap multi-use drugs like aspirin, but I’d expect the sales volume to be a lot higher. I wonder how many infrequently used cheap prescription drugs they carry. Yeah it’s unfortunate if they’re reacting to political pressure. They do still carry birth control I’m sure.