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 Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) said 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.
However, critics say the measures will hit independent vets hardest and will benefit the six firms that own more than two-thirds of practices.
The CMA made its remedies for the sector legally binding as of today (Tuesday, September 22) and vets have up to 12 months to bring all the changes in.
As well as capping prescription fees, other changes include:
- Vet practices must publish a “comprehensive” price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, and cremation options;
- 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;
- Vet businesses must make clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business; and
- 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.
CMA panel chair Martin Coleman said: “The changes that are being required are changes that will help inform pet owners about prices.”
