Calay News
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will not renew a multi-million dollar contract with pharmacy chain Walgreens after the company announced that it would not make an abortion pill available in 21 states that had threatened legal action. Newsom stated that the state had paid Walgreens $54 million over the course of the contract, which allowed it to get specialty prescription drugs that were primarily used by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
In a statement, Newsom said that “California will not stand by as corporations cave to extremists and cut off critical access to reproductive care and freedom.” Walgreens’ decision not to distribute the abortion pill, mifepristone, in certain states has caused widespread controversy and backlash from customers and politicians in Democratic-led states.
Walgreens’ decision comes in the midst of an intense political and legal debate over abortion rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The Republican attorneys general in 21 states had threatened legal action against pharmacy chains that sold mifepristone, leading to Walgreens’ decision not to distribute the drug in those states.
Following Walgreens’ decision, Newsom ordered a review of all of the state’s contracts with the company and announced on Monday that California would cease doing business with Walgreens. The governor’s actions are seen as a strong stance against corporations that cave to political pressure and cut off access to essential healthcare services.
The controversy over Walgreens’ decision highlights the ongoing debate over reproductive rights and the role that corporations play in the healthcare industry. While some customers and politicians have applauded Walgreens’ decision, others have criticized the pharmacy chain for caving to political pressure and undermining women’s access to healthcare.
The situation has also raised questions about the role of the federal government in regulating healthcare and reproductive rights. With Roe v. Wade no longer providing federal protection for abortion rights, states and corporations are increasingly becoming embroiled in legal battles over access to reproductive healthcare services.
As the debate over reproductive rights continues to rage, it remains to be seen how other corporations and states will respond to the growing political pressure surrounding this issue.
