Pharmacists must be allowed to supply veterinary medicines to pet owners. This is one of a raft of recommendations resulting from the Competition Commission, (CC) inquiry into the complex monopoly that drugs companies and vets have over the supply of prescription only medicines, (POM's) to pet owners and farmers.

The results of the inquiry, which have been welcomed by Animal Health and Welfare Minister Elliot Morley, expose: over pricing; vets discouraging or declining requests for prescriptions; and vets failing to inform clients of the price of medicines before dispensing them.

The CC says there is a lack of proper competition in the market and that the veterinary medicines industry is preventing, restricting or distorting competition.

The inquiry examined the supply of veterinary drugs at the manufacture, wholesale and retail, (veterinary) levels. Of all three levels in the supply chain it concluded that competition is weakest at the retail level.

Because of the restrictive practices of suppliers, the CC says that pharmacies are only able to provide minimal competition for veterinary surgeons.

The CC wants:

Manufacturers and wholesalers to supply POM veterinary medicines to pharmacies on the same terms as to veterinary surgeries.

Vets to be allowed supply POM's to animals not under their care.

Vets to publicise the availability of written prescriptions (but not to charge for such prescriptions) and the price of their most commonly prescribed POM's.

The inquiry was set up in 2001 following complaints from farmers and individual consumers that prices of POM's in the UK are substantially higher than in other European countries.

DEFRA Welcomes Recommendations

Elliot Morley said he was pleased the CC had undertaken a thorough inquiry and that their comprehensive report provided clear explanations for the decisions that had been reached.

"This is a helpful document in the debate on the regulation of veterinary medicines and will hopefully lead to improvements in that area. Defra will consider carefully the recommendations made to the Secretary of State on the veterinary medicines regulatory system," he said.

RCVS Defends Its Practices

Responding to the Competition Commission's report, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, (RCVS) President, Stephen Ware, said:

"The RCVS considers that, overall, the animal owning public has been well served by the veterinary profession in terms of quality and cost.

"We already advocate that veterinary surgeons' clients should have a choice of where to obtain medicines, indeed, the Current RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct states:

"Veterinary surgeons are encouraged to make their clients aware that veterinary medicines may be obtained on prescription from other suppliers, for example pharmacies, and should not unreasonably refuse to supply prescriptions if clients wish to purchase veterinary medicines from other suppliers. A reasonable charge may be made for prescriptions, which may only be issued for animals under the care of the prescribing veterinary surgeon.

"We will take time to consider the full implications of the Commission's Report."

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley      

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