UK ends ban on fees to write prescriptions

London

-- On Oct. 31, veterinarians will again be allowed to charge animal owners for writing prescriptions when a three-year ban on such fees vanishes.

The Supply of Relevant Veterinary Medicinal Products Order 2005 was introduced by the former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to implement recommendations from a 2003 Competition Commission inquiry into the supply of prescription-only veterinary medicines, which ruled that prescription charges were against the public interest in the United Kingdom.

The move was deemed beneficial to consumers by allowing pharmacies to compete directly with veterinary practices in supplying prescription-only veterinary medicines. While the newest law allows veterinary practices to charge for writing the prescription, it restricts them from charging different fees to clients (for services or medicines) based on whether or not they choose fill the prescription at the hospital.

"The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will monitor the reintroduction of prescription charges and has asked the RCVS, as the regulatory body for vets in the UK, to monitor complaints that relate to prescription charges," advises Jill Nute, president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. "Our Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons advises vets only to make reasonable charges for prescriptions, which affords the public protection against excessive or inappropriate costs."