A legal proposal submitted by Alabama legislators allows pharmacists to distribute ivermectin without a prescription from their doctor.
HB278, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Rigsby of R-Huntsville, says that in order for an individual to receive ivermectin without a prescription, doctors must obtain a standing order approved by the state pharmacy.
“Pharmacists may distribute ivermectin without a prescription to individuals under the age of 19, with written consent from individuals over the age of 19, or with the written consent of the individual’s parents or legal guardian. State pharmacy approval is signed by health care providers,” reads the bill.
The Act defines a standing order as a prescription order that is not patient-specific. Additionally, the standing order includes the risk assessment process carried out in the ivermectin requestor.
This process includes planning to address side effects of ivermectin, instructions for using the drug, instructions for follow-up care, and forms for the pharmacist to document the completion of the protocol and the dosage given to the individual. Includes:
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug used to treat parasite infections. There are a variety of products aimed at both animals and humans.
During the 2021 Covid-19 pandemic, ivermectin was touted in the anti-vaccination world as a potential treatment for a deadly virus, but scientific and medical organizations were routinely criticised Warned against ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 and taking it.
The FDA has never approved ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19.
Alabama Department of Public Health He also participated in the publication of guidance on taking antiparasitic drugs.“Ivermectin is not an antiviral drug and is approved for humans only at certain doses in certain conditions.”
Rigsby’s law restricts the distribution of ivermectin after a national pharmacy committee has reding orders to a pharmacist or health care provider for certain reasons.
The bill says pharmacists are protected from disciplinary action under these three scenarios.
- The pharmacist has sincerely failed to correctly interpret and track the rankings when distributing ivermectin.
- There was a flaw in the permanent order that pharmacists relied on when distributing ivermectin.
- The pharmacist refuses to distribute ivermectin on the request of the individual, even in the case of an existing standing order of ivermectin approved by a health care provider or pharmacist’s employer or practice.
Al.com left a message to Rigsby for comment on the bill.
A similar bill was introduced by Arkansas lawmakers about two weeks ago that would allow access to ivermectin without a prescription.
