The Competition and Markets Authority plan is set to move quickly to implement the measures
Within two months, the groundwork for new regulations will take effect for all veterinary practices — which will include legally binding caps on prescription fees and the publication of price lists. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its final reforms for the sector will help pet owners better navigate the vet services market.
Other legally binding measures will include a price comparison website and mandatory branding by the large groups to boost competition and drive down prices.
The Competition and Markets Authority, which has been investigating the sector since 2023, recently published its findings. It discovered that customers could be paying double for commonly prescribed medicines from vet practices than they would online, leading them to spend “hundreds of pounds more”.
The authority suggested that vets should cap prescription fees at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for any additional medicines and inform customers about potential savings from purchasing medicines online with those prescriptions.
“These measures will help prompt consumers to consider buying medication online and protect them from having to pay excessive prices for the prescriptions they would need to do so,” it stated. The CMA stated that pet owners using a veterinary practice belonging to a larger chain can anticipate changes commencing on September 23, reports the Mirror.
The actions follow the CMA’s findings that charges have increased at nearly double the rate of inflation, with pet owners not receiving sufficient information about their veterinary practice and treatment costs.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds stated: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority. This government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”
What the main changes will be:
Prices on websites:
Less than 40% of practices have prices on their websites – they cover few services and are sometimes hard to find.
Change: Practices publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options.
Comparing prices
Currently there is no easy or centralised way to compare local practices.
Change: Price and ownership information available to pet owners through Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) ‘Find a Vet’ service which will share the data with third-party comparison sites.
Is it a chain
Less than half of people using a large veterinary group knew that their practice was part of a chain.
Change: Vet businesses must make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business – common ownership will be displayed on signage, at the premises and online.
Price in advance
Less than half of people received pricing information in advance of recent non-routine treatment. Only 29% of these were given price information in writing
Change: Practices provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs) – plus an itemised bill. Emergencies are the only exception for written estimates.
Prescriptions
Over 70% of pet owners purchase long-term medication from their vet practice even though many could save £200 a year or more if they bought online.
Change: Pet owners must be told they can have a written prescription which could save them money.
Charging for written prescriptions
Some pet owners are being charged high prices for written prescriptions – many practices charge £30 or above for each prescription.
Change: Written prescription fees are capped at £21 (for the first medicine) and £12.50 (for any additional medicines).
Independent advice:
Vets’ duty to provide pet owners with independent and impartial advice has the potential to be compromised by commercial pressure.
Change: Practices must have written policies in place to ensure vets are empowered to offer independent and impartial advice.
Poor value plans
Pet care plans can be poor value for people who do not use many of the services included.
Change: Pet plans clearly set out the price of each component, the total cost and how any advertised savings are calculated.
Cremation costs
Pet owners may be paying around £100 more for individual cremations than they would be if there was strong price competition.
Change: Practices provide clear, upfront prices for all cremation options including any add-ons – and offer the lower cost option of a communal cremation.
Switching provider
Vet practices have long notice periods in their contracts with out-of-hours providers and high exit fees can make it difficult for them to switch provider.
Change: Out-of-hours providers will be banned from imposing unreasonably long notice periods – so practices can easily end the contract if they can get a better service for pet owners elsewhere.
Complaints
The complaints system is ineffective with no mandatory process for vet practices or redress system when things go wrong for pet owners.
Change: Practices must follow a transparent, accessible in-house complaints process and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
Martin Coleman, chairman of the independent Inquiry Group, stated: “This is the most extensive review of veterinary services in a generation, and today’s reforms will make a real difference to the millions of pet owners who want the best for their pets but struggle to find the practice, treatment and price that meets their needs.
“Too often, people are left in the dark about who owns their practice, treatment options and prices – even when facing bills running into thousands of pounds.
“Our measures mean it will be made clear to pet owners which practices are part of large groups, which are charging higher prices, and for the first time, vet businesses will be held to account by an independent regulator.
“Our changes put pet owners at the centre but also help vets by enhancing trust in the profession and protecting clinical judgment from undue commercial pressure – and that is important to ensure our pets continue to get the best care.”
The CMA stated that practices will be required to publish a full price list for standard services, covering consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options under its new regulations.
Prescription charges — for which “many” practices levy £30 or more per item — are to be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for any additional medicines.
The £21 cap, which is higher than the £16 initially put forward by the CMA, came after the watchdog reviewed further evidence suggesting the revised figure more accurately reflected reasonable costs.
Practices will also be obliged to provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment anticipated to cost £500 or more, including aftercare, along with an itemised bill. Emergency care will be the sole exception to the written estimate requirement.
CVS Group, which operates approximately 500 veterinary practices across the UK, said: “We are pleased to see that the CMA has considered our and the veterinary profession’s feedback in amending the proposed fee cap on prescriptions with the cap now increased to £21 inclusive of VAT for the first drug prescribed, with the ability to charge an additional £12.50 for each additional drug prescribed at the same time.
“Whilst we continue to believe that some of these remedies are not fully justified, we are comfortable with them and believe they are workable.”
To see the timetable for change click here. It sets out price lists for larger providers by December 2026, with smaller providers following by March 2027. The CMA is working towards having legally binding orders on businesses in place by 23 September this year.
