A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-150 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE OVER-THE-COUNTER SALE OF IVERMECTIN TABLETS AND HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE TABLETS.
Summary
H3916 would amend South Carolina law to expressly allow ivermectin tablets and hydroxychloroquine tablets to be sold over the counter in the state. The bill states that these medications could be made available to the public for purchase without a prescription and without consultation with a pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
The measure creates a new section in Title 44, Chapter 53 of the South Carolina Code and overrides any conflicting law to the extent necessary to permit these sales. If enacted, it would take effect upon approval by the Governor.
Impact
The bill would change state controlled access rules for two prescription drugs by authorizing retail over-the-counter sales in South Carolina. It would remove the prescription requirement and any pharmacist or healthcare consultation requirement for ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine tablets, affecting pharmacies, retailers, prescribers, pharmacists, and consumers. The bill does not appear to alter federal law, but it would create a state-law authorization for sales that are otherwise restricted under current practice.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no recorded legislative debate or roll-call evidence to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a direct deregulatory proposal aimed at expanding access to these medications. The caption and structure suggest a straightforward policy change rather than a broader omnibus measure.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be public health and safety: supporters may argue for consumer access and personal choice, while opponents may raise concerns about unsupervised use, inappropriate self-medication, and the bypassing of medical guidance. The bill’s explicit elimination of both prescription and pharmacist consultation requirements is the most significant issue, because it removes professional oversight for drugs commonly associated with controversial off-label use. No specific stakeholder positions are documented in the provided materials.
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A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-150 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE OVER-THE-COUNTER SALE OF IVERMECTIN TABLETS.