WHILE pharmacists around the globe have been encouraged to exercise their rights not to dispense ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, legislators in Kansas, US, are pushing a Bill that would compel them to supply the medications.
The legislation proposed by Republican State Senator, Mark Steffens, would require pharmacists to dispense prescriptions for both drugs to treat COVID-19, despite experts saying they did not work.
"I do think we made it perfectly clear that they can't refuse to fill an appropriate prescription based on a known or unknown or soon-to-be diagnosis," Steffens said.
While Steffens and his Republican colleagues have backed measures to force pharmacists to supply the medications, Democrat rival, Cindy Holscher, has warned that passing the legislation would drive health professionals out of the State.
"With this type of Bill, you're putting a sign out saying 'we don't want healthcare professionals in Kansas," Holsher said.
"This is the type of thing that scares away healthcare professionals from operating in Kansas... it mandates the pharmacist to fill the prescription, even if it's incorrect.
"The role of the pharmacist is to keep people safe...the science is very clear, those drugs are not effective and they carry significant side-effects and risks."
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