Vet prescription fees capped under rule changes
Written prescription fees from vets capped at £21- Vets must also tell clients if cheaper medicine is available online
Written prescription fees from vets will be capped at £21 as part of a raft of changes that practices will be legally required to bring in over the coming months, the BBC has reported.
‘Vets must also tell clients if cheaper medicine is available online, write price estimates ahead of treatment, and publish price lists for services as part of the rule updates.
‘The official competition watchdog has brought the measures into force after its investigation into the sector found prices had been rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation.
‘Critics say the measures will hit independent vets hardest and will benefit the six firms that own more than two-thirds of practices.
‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) made its remedies for the sector legally binding as of Tuesday 22nd September and vets have up to 12 months to bring all the changes in.’
The CMA has published its Final Orders and significantly amended the wording and design of its client notice on medicines and prescriptions following strong pushback from the BVA.
In a statement the BVA said ‘The Final Orders bring the CMA’s two-and-a-half-year investigation into the UK vet services market for household pets to a close and, whilst we need to scrutinise the details, at first glance, thanks to our intervention, we have a final package of remedies that is more proportionate, workable and fairer for both vets and clients.
‘Vets have come under intense scrutiny during the investigation, and we’ve continued to stand-up for our members. Our President Rob Willams appeared on BBC One’s Breakfast and across the media, talking about the important work you do to support your clients and care for animals.
‘But now the real work for our members begins. The remedies will come into force over the coming months, and we will continue support you as you make the transition to comply with the CMA’s requirements. We have a range of resources available to help BVA members and we will continue to update these.’
As well as capping prescription fees, other changes include:
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Vet practices must publish a “comprehensive” price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, and cremation options
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A written estimate must be provided in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more, including aftercare costs, plus an itemised bill. Emergencies are the only exception to this
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Vet businesses must make clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business
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To help pet owners compare local practices, price and ownership information will be made available through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ “Find a Vet” service, which will share the data with third-party comparison sites.
The timelines for when vets need to bring in the fixes depends on the exact regulation and the group’s size. The CMA sets it out here., external
“The changes that are being required are changes that will help inform pet owners about prices,” said CMA panel chair Martin Coleman.
