趣夜app

The听趣夜app (趣夜app), which represents听more than听19,000 vets听across the UK,听has听welcomed听many听of the听measures outlined in the听Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA)听Provisional听Decision听Report听published last month (15 October)听following its investigation into the UK vet services market听for听household pets,听calling them听鈥榤uch听more proportionate鈥櫶齮han earlier proposals.听However,听it has听serious听concerns听that听proposals听around the prescribing and sale of medicines听are听anti-competitive and are unlikely to reduce vet bills for pet owners.听听

The CMA report sets听out鈥�21听proposed听measures听aimed听at听improving competition in the vet market.听听听趣夜app听welcomes the CMA鈥檚听proposals aimed at听increasing transparency and choice for consumers听including:听increased information about practice ownership;听standardised price lists;听written estimates;听and听itemised听bills.听 It听also welcomes the CMA鈥檚听support听for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and听the need for听practice regulation.听 However,听the association听has听serious听concerns around听some听of the听CMA鈥檚 proposals relating to veterinary medicines听which it sees as听鈥榓nti-competitive鈥櫶齛nd听unlikely to reduce vet bills听for听consumers.听听听

New data from听趣夜app鈥檚 Voice of the Veterinary Profession听survey听revealed that听64 per cent of vets听say听the听CMA鈥檚听proposal听requiring听vets to听inform clients听about听savings听they听can make buying听medicines听online听would have听a negative impact on the financial sustainability of their practice,听with听65听per cent听also stating听that听a听拢16听cap on听prescriptions听would听also听risk听practice viability.听听

In addition,听the research shows that many practices are already听implementing听the听CMA鈥檚 measures with听79 per听cent听already providing听itemised bills听and听80 per cent听reporting听they听provide听written estimates for听work over 拢500 on all or most occasions.听听

Responding to the CMA鈥檚 provisional decision,听趣夜app President Dr. Rob Williams听MRCVS听said:听鈥淭he measures outlined in听the CMA鈥檚听provisional听decision report are听much听more measured and proportionate听compared听to earlier proposals and听that听clearly shows听they have听listened to our concerns.听As vets, we welcome听the measures听that听increase transparency and help us to better support our clients.听 However,听it鈥檚 vital that the CMA gets the听detail听right or听it听risks听unintended negative consequences.听

鈥溔ひ筧pp听particularly welcomes听the听CMA听backing our听calls听for听reform of the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act,听including听the听need for听practice regulation. Vets have been听pressing听for reform of this woefully outdated听legislation for many years, and听reform听will听go a long way to addressing many of the concerns raised听throughout the听CMA听investigation听and听will听help build听trust听with our clients.听听

鈥淲e do, however, have听serious听concerns听about听the听medicines听proposals听鈥� it is simply听unreasonable to expect vet practices to actively promote online pharmacies, which are in direct competition for听customers听and听some听of which are run by large veterinary groups. In addition, the proposed 拢16 price听cap for prescriptions will听be ineffective and听is听unlikely听to听lead to lower vet bills for consumers.鈥�,听听

With the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and the Veterinary Management Group (VMG),听趣夜app has submitted a听joint听response to the听CMA听consultation on its provisional decision report and has听also听highlighted the need听to allow听sufficient time听for听vet businesses and professionals to adapt.听

Read听the听full response听here.