The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has ordered veterinary practices to cap written prescription fees at £21 and to publish price lists, according to The Guardian. A cost-comparison website will also be introduced to increase competition and drive down costs, the outlet reported. These measures are due to come into force later this year. It remains unclear whether the cost-comparison website will be government-run or privately operated, and how many veterinary practices are currently not publishing price lists.
Many pet owners in the UK feel vet prices have increased so much that they are becoming difficult to afford, The Guardian reported. Some pet owners are concerned they are paying 'over the odds' for medication when it could be bought cheaper online, according to the outlet. The exact percentage increase in vet fees over recent years has not been disclosed.
I paid £35 before I even walked through the door.
Despite these concerns, many pet owners who contacted The Guardian spoke up for their vets, saying that while treatment was expensive, they felt they were made fully aware of what they were paying for. This mixed reaction highlights the complexity of the affordability issue in the veterinary sector.
Specific examples illustrate the high costs faced by pet owners. Anna Radley was quoted £1,400 for dental treatment for her cat at one veterinary practice, The Guardian reported. Kim paid £35 before walking through the door at a veterinary chain for her dog Suki's eye problem, according to The Guardian.
Kim's case further demonstrates repeated costs for unresolved pet health issues. She was prescribed antibiotics costing £48 plus painkillers for Suki's infection, The Guardian reported. After the first course of antibiotics, Suki had not improved, so Kim returned to the vet and paid another £35 and was prescribed antibiotics again for £48 plus painkillers. It is not specified whether the cap on prescription fees applies to all types of veterinary prescriptions or only certain categories.