Providing for over-the-counter availability of ivermectin.
Summary
House Bill 1494 would amend Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to expressly allow ivermectin suitable for human use to be dispensed, sold, or purchased in the Commonwealth as an over-the-counter medication. Under the bill, ivermectin could be obtained without a prescription and without consultation with a pharmacist, physician, or other health care practitioner.
The bill also defines “over-the-counter medication” by reference to drugs that may be legally dispensed, sold, and purchased without a prescription under federal and state law. If enacted, the measure would create a specific statutory authorization for ivermectin’s nonprescription availability in Pennsylvania and would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
HB1494 would amend the state’s drug and cosmetic law by adding a new section specifically addressing ivermectin. The practical effect would be to override any state-level prescription requirement for ivermectin suitable for human use and to permit retail sale and purchase without a prescription or pharmacist/clinician consultation, so long as the drug is otherwise lawful under federal and state law. The bill would affect pharmacies, retailers, prescribers, pharmacists, and consumers by changing how ivermectin may be distributed in Pennsylvania.
Sentiment
There is limited recorded legislative discussion or voting history available for this bill, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from committee debate or floor votes. Based on the bill’s introduction and referral, the measure appears to have been presented as a straightforward access-expansion proposal, with support implied by its sponsors, but no formal committee testimony or vote record is provided here to show broader agreement or opposition.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether ivermectin should be available without medical oversight. Supporters would view the bill as expanding consumer access and removing prescription barriers, while opponents may raise concerns about self-medication, misuse, and the safety of bypassing pharmacist or physician consultation. Because no committee transcript or vote data is included, specific arguments from legislators, health professionals, or stakeholders are not available in the record provided.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 19-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the over-the-counter availability of ivermectin.