Enforcement of a report released by the Competition Commission will slash the cost of animal medication and has been welcomed, by north east based Hyperdrug.com, one of UK’s leading specialist animal pharmacists.
This report will see dramatic changes in the current inflated prices that the tens of millions of UK animal owners have been forced to pay.
These changes in legislation will enable animal pharmacists to compete on a level playing field with vets and allow them to reduce the cost of prescription medication, whilst also giving animal owners the option of seeking out the best possible price for vital medication.
This issue was first highlighted in 2003, when the then Department of Trade and Industry minister, Patricia Hewitt said “prices for veterinary medicines are too high”,
This followed a full investigation which revealed THREE complex monopolies all in favour of vets, the manufacturers and the wholesalers.
These monopolies allowed some vets to charge animal owners almost anything they wanted for medication.
Examples considered by the Competition Commission included
A pony with drugs to prevent hoof deterioration – Vets price £360, Hyperdrug.com price £120 – saving £240
A dog with tummy trouble – Vets price £26.69, Hyperdrug.com price £4.99 – saving £21.70
A dog requiring medicine to help with arthritis – Vets price £86, Hyperdrug.com price £50.29 saving £25.71
This situation prompted the Department of Trade & Industry to hold a full public consultation resulting in the following changes in legislation.
· Vets required to offer written prescriptions to clients whenever prescription drugs are needed.
1 These can be dispensed at pharmacies including specialist animal ones like Hyperdrug.
2 No extra charges to be made for writing these prescriptions during an initial three year period.
3 Manufacturers of animal medication to offer pharmacies the same terms for the same volumes as they do vets
Director of Hyperdrug.com, Geoff Watson said:
“This is good news for animal owners of this country, we have waited for over 2 years for these monopolies to end and this will ensure that people won’t be forced to pay inflated prices for crucial medication for their animals.”
“Animal owners have been taken advantage of for far too long and hopefully these findings will ensure they pay an honest price for an honest service.”
Hyperdrug.com welcomes these conclusions and feels the benefits to the millions of animal owners throughout the UK is a step in the right direction
But they also warn that the new rules will mean nothing if they aren’t properly enforced.
“If this doesn’t happen then nothing will change and millions of people of the UK will still be forced to pay over-inflated prices to keep their animals healthy.”
“We deal with animal owners everyday who can’t afford the cost of medication resulting in prolonged suffering and even death for animals.”
