Comprehensive price lists, lower prescription fees and a cost-comparing database of veterinarians: these are some of the 21 long-awaited provisional measures proposed by British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) following its market investigation into UK veterinary services for household pets. A summary of the report can be found here.
‘Not fit for purpose’
While the report stressed that ‘veterinary professionals work hard, act ethically, and put animal welfare first’, it finds that the current system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and highlights the need for reform of current outdated veterinary legislation. It also notes an average increase in veterinary prices across the market of 63% between 2016 and 2023 – ‘well above the rate of inflation’. The proposed measures include:
- Requiring veterinary businesses to publish ‘comprehensive price lists’ and clearly state if they are part of a large group
- Making it easier to access cheaper medicines online, with a £16 (€18.40) cap on the price of providing prescriptions
- Requiring clear price information on treatments, including written prices for treatments costing more than £500 (€575), plus itemised bills
- Requiring the RCVS to expand its Find-a-Vet database to include pricing data
- Requiring clear price information on cremations and pet care plans
- Recommending the government urgently prioritises a new Veterinary Surgeons Act and updated regulation, including the development of ‘an effective complaints handling route if things go wrong’
Many measures welcomed, some concern
The CMA also published a page to help vets and vet nurses understand the measures. While British Veterinary Association (BVA) welcomed many of the proposed measures — including greater transparency of pricing and practice ownership; reform of the outdated regulatory framework; and support for calls for regulation of vet businesses — it also raised concerns of potential negative impacts around comprehensive price lists, which 'may cause greater confusion due to the varied and complex nature of vet care.'
Month-long consultation
For improved communication and transparency around costs, the BSAVA has developed resources to help practices explain veterinary fees and deliver contextualised care on a budget, as announced earlier. The proposals will now be the subject of a month-long consultation process, with further hearings expected to take place in November and December. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, a similar market investigation of the ‘cost developments’ of veterinary sector is also underway.
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