{"id":321073,"date":"2024-11-20T14:42:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T20:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=321073"},"modified":"2024-11-19T20:33:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T02:33:37","slug":"mission-planned-parenthood-test-pharmacy-ohio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/mission-planned-parenthood-test-pharmacy-ohio\/","title":{"rendered":"The main ‘mission’ behind Planned Parenthood’s new ‘test’ pharmacy in Ohio"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Planned Parenthood pharmacy PPRx, on the campus of the Planned Parenthood Akron Health Center and operated by Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGO), is being tested as a “blueprint for Planned Parenthood sites across the country,” PPGO pharmacy director<\/a> Christopher Smurthwaite, told IdeaStream.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If successful, PPRx could “expand beyond Akron in the next year or two,” Smurthwaite claimed.<\/p>\n

The Planned Parenthood pharmacy, which will “offer a wide range of prescription medications,” is open to the public and shows a registration issue date 1\/10\/2024 from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But this pharmacy wasn’t truly founded with a “wide range” of prescription medications in mind.<\/p>\n

What’s PPRx’s true “mission”?<\/b><\/p>\n

According to PPGO’s website,<\/a> the Planned Parenthood pharmacy PPRx, which officially opened for business in October of 2024,\u00a0has one main “mission” (emphasis added):<\/p>\n

Our mission is to empower and support individuals on their gender-affirming journey<\/strong> by providing compassionate, personalized, and inclusive pharmaceutical care. We are dedicated to offering comprehensive and accessible healthcare solutions, fostering a safe and welcoming environment, and advocating for the unique needs of our transgender and non-binary community. Through education and empathy, PPrx Pharmacy will strive to enhance the well-being and health outcomes of all our patients. <\/em><\/p>\n

We welcome and honor your authentic self.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Screenshot, PPRx – PP of Greater Ohio<\/p><\/div>\n

The site also notes that it will offer a “a wide range of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, health and wellness products, and personalized healthcare services.”<\/p>\n

The Planned Parenthood pharmacy claims it will offer “vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, overdose prevention medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, HIV prevention medications, like PrEP and PEP, Gender-affirming hormone therapy medications,” according to the website.<\/p>\n

Smurthwaite told IdeaStream.org<\/a>\u00a0that the Planned Parenthood pharmacy was inspired to “reduc[e] the barriers for patients that are having issues with their pharmacies and filling medications, especially as we started to emerge as a go-to organization for gender-affirming care.”<\/p>\n

“We were identifying that patients were having issues, not only filling their medications, but getting the correct supplies and unfortunately, also having to deal with the social stigma of filling gender-affirming care products,” Smurthwaite told IdeaStream.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, at the same time, the PPRx website<\/a> claims it is a “community-focused pharmacy” offering a “wide range of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, health and wellness products, and personalized healthcare services.”<\/p>\n

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Today's the day! We're excited to officially open the doors of our first-of-its-kind community pharmacy in Akron. pic.twitter.com\/3zQIoPHftT<\/a><\/p>\n

— Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (@PPGreaterOH) October 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n