Statewide Iowa (RI) — A bill that would make it legal for Iowa pharmacists to make over-the-counter sales of two prescription medications some people sought during the pandemic has cleared a House subcommittee, but a key lawmaker says changes must be made in the bill.
Ivermectin is a prescription drug the FDA has approved as treatment of parasites like worms and head lice. Hydroxychloroquine is prescribed for malaria and lupus. Organizations representing doctors, nurses, and pharmacists oppose the bill.
Iowa Pharmacy Association president Wes Pilkington owns a pharmacy in Evansdale and he says the bill would force pharmacists to dispense the drugs, even when there are concerns.
Seth Brown is a lobbyist for the Iowa Medical Society, as well as associations that represent Iowa pediatricians and specialists who treat patients with arthritis.
He says the drugs can cause serious heart and liver issues.
Lindsay Maher of Informed Choice Iowa says billions of doses of ivermectin have been given worldwide and other states have passed laws allowing it to be sold without a prescription.
Two of the three subcommittee members expressed grave concerns about the bill.
Representative Austin Baeth, a Democrat from Des Moines, is a doctor of internal medicine.
Representative Brett Barker, a Republican from Nevada, is a pharmacist.
Barker says he does not support the bill as written, however, Barker says he’s willing to have a conversation about making changes to the bill if it’s debated in the House Health and Human Services Committee.
KIWA Staff Photo
