A bill Thursday passed the Tennessee Senate that would allow patients to obtain a commonly-used drug over the counter.

SB 2188 “authorizes ivermectin suitable for human use to be sold or purchased as an over-the-counter medication in this state without a prescription or consultation with a pharmacist or certain other healthcare professional.”

Ivermectin, a widely used anti-parasitic, has been the subject of hot debate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the failure of the federal government to authorize the use of any therapeutics to treat patients with COVID-19, instead of choosing to push vaccines as the only solution to the deadly virus, some Americans turned to Ivermectin.

But many were denied prescriptions – even by pharmacies – when they sought to treat themselves with the drug.

The bill, introduced by State Senator Frank Niceley (R-District 8), would allow anyone to obtain the drug without approval from a doctor or pharmacist.