South CarolinaAdults could buy FDA-approved ivermectin without prescriptions
If the Governor approves it, adults 18 and older could buy FDA-approved ivermectin for human use without a prescription, subject to pharmacy safeguards.
What it does
If approved by the Governor, South Carolina pharmacies could sell FDA-approved ivermectin for human use without prescriptions to adults age eighteen and older.
Pharmacists would screen and counsel adults before dispensing ivermectin, and would have to withhold it when known safety problems or serious drug interactions exist.
Pharmacists could refuse unsafe sales and would receive limited liability protection, but they would not have to stock ivermectin or provide it through insurance.
Argument forAdults may gain easier access to ivermectin because pharmacies could sell it without prescriptions while requiring safety screening and counseling.
Argument againstSome buyers may face added costs or difficulty finding the medicine because insurance need not cover it and pharmacies need not stock it.
More detail
Pharmacies could sell FDA-approved ivermectin labeled for human use without a prescription. The sale would be available to people age eighteen and older in South Carolina, and the product would remain in an area accessible only to pharmacy staff. The ivermectin must be FDA-approved and labeled for human use. The Governor must approve the act before this rule takes effect. This rule would begin when the Governor approves the act.
The Board of Pharmacy would adopt procedures for screening and informing patients before dispensing ivermectin. The procedures would apply to pharmacists dispensing ivermectin under this section. Patients would receive a risk assessment and information about uses, risks, directions, and medical follow-up. Pharmacists could not dispense the medicine when known contraindications or serious drug interactions appear from the patient's medicines or medical conditions. The Board could not require more documentation than reasonably needed to show compliance. The Board would have ninety days after the act takes effect to adopt the required rules.
Pharmacists could rely on patient-provided information and would receive legal protections when acting in good faith and with reasonable care. The protections would apply to pharmacists acting under this ivermectin section, while pharmacists could still refuse unsafe sales and would not have to stock the medicine. The protections would not cover gross negligence or intentional misconduct. A pharmacist would not have to dispense ivermectin when professional judgment indicates a risk to the patient's health or safety. The act would not require health insurers to cover the medicine, and pharmacists could charge an administrative or dispensing fee. These protections and limits would apply when the act takes effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 11
- Vote recorded Table Motion to Reconsider. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25Roll call Yeas-58 Nays-37Latest
- Vote recorded Table Motion to Commit. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Commit. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25Committed to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental AffairsMinor
- May 18Debate adjourned
- May 15Debate adjourned
- May 14Read third time and returned to House with amendmentsPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 14Scrivener's error corrected
- May 13Roll call Ayes-38 Nays-3
- Vote recorded 2nd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Read second timeMinor
- May 13AmendedMajor
- May 12Special order, set for May 12, 2026
- May 6Committee report: Favorable Medical AffairsMinor
- May 6Polled out of committee Medical Affairs
- May 6Referred to Committee on Medical AffairsMinor
- May 6Introduced and read first timeMinor
- May 6Read third time and sent to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- May 5Roll call Yeas-100 Nays-9
- Vote recorded Passage of Bill. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Read second timeMinor
- May 5AmendedMajor
- Apr 29Debate adjourned
- Apr 29Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Duncan
- Apr 28Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gibson
- Apr 23Debate adjourned
- Apr 22Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith
- Apr 1Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon
- Apr 1Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-2-26
- Apr 1Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Taylor
- Mar 31Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers
- Mar 26Requests for debate-Rep(s). Jones, Bamberg, Kirby, Reese, Waters, MM Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Henderson-Myers, Hart, Hosey, Williams, Luck, King, JL Johnson, Grant
- Mar 26Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Forrest, Chumley
- Mar 25Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal AffairsMinor
- Mar 24Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Sessions, Chapman, Brewer, Lawson, Oremus, Hartz, Vaughan, Pedalino, Teeple, Landing, Rankin, Schuessler, Ligon, Long, Sanders, Ford, T.Moore
- Feb 4Member(s) request name added as sponsor: D.Mitchell
- Jan 21Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger
- Aug 11
- 2025
- Feb 19Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal AffairsMinor
- Feb 19Introduced and read first timeIntroduced
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionMental Health