The cost of vets

snowman2_2

Asher wrote: »

This place is reasonable
http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/pet-care/pet-care.html

They also sell other drugs/medicine so if you know what you want you can get it from there.

Also if you buy from the USA many items are available without a prescription for people such as farmers but you need to tick a disclaimer because they are not giving advice and assume you know what you are buying and how to use it. You would have to pay a customs charge for any place you import medicine from plus a post office handling charge.

Unfortunately you would be breaking the law as you need an import permit from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate first. Vets can get a permit for individual drugs not available in Europe but it costs £30 and must be applied for on an individual animal basis

From the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005

Importation of authorised veterinary medicinal products
9. —(1) It is an offence to import a veterinary medicinal product authorised for use in the United Kingdom except in accordance with this regulation.

(2) A holder of a marketing authorisation may import a veterinary medicinal product for which he holds the marketing authorisation.

(3) A holder of a manufacturing authorisation may import a veterinary medicinal product to which his authorisation relates.

(4) An authorised wholesale dealer may import a veterinary medicinal product if—

• (a) his authorisation covers the product;
  
  (b) the importation is in accordance with a certificate issued for the purpose by the Secretary of State; and
  
  (c) he has notified the holder of the marketing authorisation in writing before he imports it.
  
  

(5) A veterinary surgeon or a pharmacist may import any authorised veterinary medicinal product.

(6) A suitably qualified person (in accordance with paragraph 9 of Schedule 3) may import any authorised veterinary medicinal product that he is permitted to supply.

(7) There are no restrictions on the importation of an authorised veterinary medicinal product in category AVM-GSL.

Asher

snowman2 wrote: »

Unfortunately you would be breaking the law as you need an import permit from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate first. Vets can get a permit for individual drugs not available in Europe but it costs £30 and must be applied for on an individual animal basis

From the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005

Importation of authorised veterinary medicinal products
9. —(1) It is an offence to import a veterinary medicinal product authorised for use in the United Kingdom except in accordance with this regulation.

(2) A holder of a marketing authorisation may import a veterinary medicinal product for which he holds the marketing authorisation.

(3) A holder of a manufacturing authorisation may import a veterinary medicinal product to which his authorisation relates.

(4) An authorised wholesale dealer may import a veterinary medicinal product if—

• (a) his authorisation covers the product;
  
  (b) the importation is in accordance with a certificate issued for the purpose by the Secretary of State; and
  
  (c) he has notified the holder of the marketing authorisation in writing before he imports it.

(5) A veterinary surgeon or a pharmacist may import any authorised veterinary medicinal product.

(6) A suitably qualified person (in accordance with paragraph 9 of Schedule 3) may import any authorised veterinary medicinal product that he is permitted to supply.

(7) There are no restrictions on the importation of an authorised veterinary medicinal product in category AVM-GSL.

They get around that by not having a label that screams veterinary medicine.
For instance if it is say amoxil 250 gram that is all the label will read. No instruction about how much to give or how often, whether you can give it to cats, dogs, people or birds. Order something if you don't believe me - you will get a card through your letter box saying you owe £xyz and will you take that amount in cash to the sorting office. You then pay them the money and they give you the box.

~Chameleon~

Asher wrote: »

They get around that by not having a label that screams veterinary medicine.
For instance if it is say amoxil 250 gram that is all the label will read. No instruction about how much to give or how often, whether you can give it to cats, dogs, people or birds. Order something if you don't believe me - you will get a card through your letter box saying you owe £xyz and will you take that amount in cash to the sorting office. You then pay them the money and they give you the box.

I'm not sure I like the sound of that. How would you know whether the medication you're receiving is animal or human grade, or that all the ingredients are exactly the same as the UK prescribed equivalent.

There can be huge differences even between different manufacturers in this country amongst generic brands, and drugs manufactured abroad wouldn't fall under the same strict guidelines imposed on UK pharmaceuticals.

Mrs_pbradley936

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I'm not sure I like the sound of that. How would you know whether the medication you're receiving is animal or human grade, or that all the ingredients are exactly the same as the UK prescribed equivalent.

There can be huge differences even between different manufacturers in this country amongst generic brands, and drugs manufactured abroad wouldn't fall under the same strict guidelines imposed on UK pharmaceuticals.

We tend to be shy of internet pharmacies because we have the NHS but I spend a great deal of time in the USA and many people use them because the savings are enormous. I am talking about human medicine now but I suppose of you know how much and how often to give something to your dog or cat there are saving to be made. As for not trusting them that argument has been blown out of the water by consumer groups in the USA who asked the drug companies if they were providing unsafe drugs to Canada, Mexico, Europe etc and they had to admit that they were not. If they live near the border with Canada or Mexico and get the drugs while on holiday they are not committing any offence. However they must not buy vast amounts and re-sell them. When that became OK those living a long way from the borders asked for the same deal via the mail and got it. Now you can import medicine via the US Post Office but no more than a 90 day supply at any one time. Some drugs are banned but the internet pharmacy will always say “cannot ship to USA”.

This is the site very many Americans use:
http://www.edrugnet.com/

Mrs_pbradley936

This link gives a background to the situation in the USA:
http://www.house.gov/cummings/pdf/intl.pdf

This is from a State government site:
http://www.affordabledrugs.il.gov/price.cfm


This is a drug price comparison site:
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/

wuno

Asher wrote: »

This place is reasonable
http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/pet-care/pet-care.html

They also sell other drugs/medicine so if you know what you want you can get it from there.

Also if you buy from the USA many items are available without a prescription for people such as farmers but you need to tick a disclaimer because they are not giving advice and assume you know what you are buying and how to use it. You would have to pay a customs charge for any place you import medicine from plus a post office handling charge.

Yep, you can purchase drugs without a prescription from overseas. All you have to pay is VAT on the value of the drugs plus a charge to royal mail for collection of the VAT (£8 I think).

It is not illegal to buy drugs without a prescription, it is illegal to sell them, or to possess them with an intention of selling them. However, the UK authorities cannot prosecute companies based overseas.

I've had a quick look, but given the extra hassle and fees, they don't compete on price with the UK based veterinary online pharmacies.

I think the only real reason for using such an offshore pharmacy would be for generics (which we cannot supply thanks to cascade) or for those people who have embarrassing little problems and don't want to get a prescription from their doctor.....

red_bertie

I think we all have to accept that any reasonable charges made by a veterinary practice issuing the prescription has to include a general overhead charge surely? I think it only fair, if we are going to buy stuff [as I do] off the internet.

snowman2_2

It is still illegal to import drugs from the US without a licence and it is also illegal to use a human drug where a licensed vet equivalent exists. Vets have to work within these guidelines and so should owners using internet pharmacies. Still, it is very difficult to stop as the UK authorities cannot prosecute the pharmacies abroad. I am sure some of these sites are fully compliant with US law and are doing a good job but you should stick to UK suppliers.

wuno

Buying "human" equivalents of "veterinary" drugs from the US is not illegal, and you can do this without a prescription or a licence.

As I said, this is the only reason I can see why people looking to treat animals for a reduced cost would buy from an overseas online pharmacy. It happens, particulalrly in the farming industry.

However, to clarify, if you actually give the US "human" drug to an animal, you are breaking the law. In fact, even if you have an animal and it is clear that you intended to give the drug to the animal you are breaking the law.

You can feed the drugs to yourself, however, perfectly legally.

snowman2_2

I suppose there is a technical difference between purchasing and using said drugs. I have had a few cases where someone has confused their own andtheir pets medications