Vets and prescriptions

snowman2_2

Wherever these internet sites are getting Metacam 180ml to sell at £18 ish I want some because that is less than half of what I am paying and presumably they are making some profit. I am starting to think I should give up selling drugs as it is not a level playing field, vets are being charged a lot more than these pharmacies for the same drug. Prices for consults and operations will have to go up by 20% to pay for it. Either that or these are foreign imports / fake drugs because these prices you are quoting are obscenely cheap. Stop blaming your vets as it is becoming clear that we are being taken for a ride by the drug companies and wholesalers. I am not being given a chance to compete. Think I might have to make some phone calls on Monday....

Kaelea

My 'old' vet has just started to do this

my dogs been on Rimadyl for the past 3 years no change in my dogs condition, prescription or dosage, my vet has now decided to get the prescription I have to have a monthly consultation ( I got the meds from vets at vets prices not internet)

2 x dogs @ 2 x consultation + 2 x prescriptions equals ouch

I've changed vets!

tankgirl1

How old is pooch? How long is several months? Does pooch have any other medical problems? Are blood tests done at the check up? Could be that the vet has a good reason for monthly check ups, which is not being explained fully to, or understood fully by pooches owner.

As snowman said, #18 is stupidly cheap for a 180ml bottle of metacam - can you be sure it is legit?

Is the vet actually examining the animal monthly, or just only willing to give a months prescription at a time? Perhaps after a phone conversation?

All vets must examine their patients as regularly as they feel is neccesary in order to provide prescriptions. If you feel this is excessive, your first port of call would be to arrange a meeting with the principals/partners of the practice, and explain this to them. Most vets will do their best to keep clients happy, as long as said clients aren't aggressive or have debts with them. I bet you could work something out with them if you had a meeting with the bosses.

If you still get nowhere after that, then vote with your feet! But be sure that pooches medical history is transferred to any new practice.

rising_from_the_ashes

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I'm sure one of the reasons premiums are so high is that people who do have their pets insured pay whatever price the vets charge for medication rather than shopping around to get the best deal.

While I appreciate individual practices cannot match companies who buy in huge quantities, there is surely a problem somewhere when it costs £68 to buy something from a vet which I can buy for less than £18 elsewhere - that's £50 difference!

snowman2 wrote: »

Wherever these internet sites are getting Metacam 180ml to sell at £18 ish I want some because that is less than half of what I am paying and presumably they are making some profit. I am starting to think I should give up selling drugs as it is not a level playing field, vets are being charged a lot more than these pharmacies for the same drug. Prices for consults and operations will have to go up by 20% to pay for it. Either that or these are foreign imports / fake drugs because these prices you are quoting are obscenely cheap. Stop blaming your vets as it is becoming clear that we are being taken for a ride by the drug companies and wholesalers. I am not being given a chance to compete. Think I might have to make some phone calls on Monday....

Snowman I totally agree with you - if it came across otherwise I apologise.

If I (as an individual) can buy 180ml Metacam for £18 online, then you can bet your life that the drug companies who supply vets get it at least at that price - however, it's obvious that's not the price they're charging vets for the medication as I know my vets certainly doesn't make £50/bottle off it.

This surely has to mean there is something wrong in the system somewhere.

I would much rather support my vets business than a faceless company on the internet and if I could get it from my vets for around £30 then I would happily do so - however, a £50 difference just isn't feasible when I'm paying for it out of my pocket.

However, I also know that if my cats need treatment, I get the medication from my vets without quibble (they are insured).

This surely has to impact on the premiums that insurance companies are charging.

elliesmemory1

snowman2 wrote: »

Wherever these internet sites are getting Metacam 180ml to sell at £18 ish I want some because that is less than half of what I am paying and presumably they are making some profit. I am starting to think I should give up selling drugs as it is not a level playing field, vets are being charged a lot more than these pharmacies for the same drug. Prices for consults and operations will have to go up by 20% to pay for it. Either that or these are foreign imports / fake drugs because these prices you are quoting are obscenely cheap. Stop blaming your vets as it is becoming clear that we are being taken for a ride by the drug companies and wholesalers. I am not being given a chance to compete. Think I might have to make some phone calls on Monday....

Im charged over £50 at my vets for previcox tablets from a internet site with a prescption I can get the same drug for under £25. When my insurance cover for the condition runs out I know what I will be doing. My vet says it because these companies dont have the same over heads.

snowman2_2

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Snowman I totally agree with you - if it came across otherwise I apologise.

I dont blame you at all, no apology needed what-so-ever. I just bought a washing machine on-line rather than my local curry's but I do use my local retailer a lot, he just didn't have the right washer in this time. I try to give mu business to local companies if possible but sometimes it is silly not to use the internet.

It is the system that the Competition Commission and OFT wanted that is now actually biased against vets that needs changing. I just want a level playing field with wholesale prices. Yes, the internet prices will always be a bit cheaper as they have cheaper overheads but at least I would stand a chance of competing. Some vets wont want to compete and in a free-market that is their choice and your choice whether to use them or not. But I would like to offer a reasonable price allowing for the convenience, speed, expertise that we have compared to an internet site but I can't at the moment. It would be cheaper for me to buy wholesale from some of these pharmacies but I suspect they wont have a wholesaler licence for that.

gettingready

It may be a very dumb question but can't vets buy their stock from cheaper companies?

Snowman - you say you can not get the meds for the price people quote on here, why not? If they can as individuals?

Are you, vets tied into some contract limiting where from you can buy your meds?



Zara was recommended seraquin some time ago, over £35 from the vet, £17 from the net - of course I was buyin on the net.

Just wondering... why can't vets do it?

Thanks

Fire_Fox

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

This is what I'm wondering - to have monthly check ups for "long term, stable" conditions seems a bit OTT and that's the only thing I can think of (follow up consultation charge is £17 each month + cost of the drugs = £47/month).:(

<snip>

I get exactly the same drug from my vet which costs me about £85 (incl check up & prescription fee) for 6 months, which comes to just under £15/month. Why should DM therefore be stuck paying £47/month to get exactly the same thing - it's a huge amount over a year.

The problem is that you are assuming that this is a chronically stable condition, based on symptoms reported by someone who has no veterinary qualifications. We don't even know which form of arthritis this is, nor whether the vet is looking for other signs or symptoms at each check up. At least human doctors (usually) get symptoms reported by the patient themselves, pediatricians and veterinarians don't have that luxury so may rely more heavily on physical examinations.

Just because the two dogs are on the same NSAID doesn't mean it's fair to make comparisons as many drugs have more than one therapeutic application. Sometimes practice policies are introduced because of clients complaining that they are not all subject to the same rules, in fact exactly what is bugging you about this situation! :huh: Absolutely do question the status quo but don't convict and sentence the vets without a body of evidence. TBH tho if you mistrust this vet that much after so many years you'd probably be more comfortable registering with another practice.

rising_from_the_ashes

What's annoying her is that her vets have said that it's "practice policy" not to issue a prescription for more than one months' medication - to any patient, ever!

She has asked if there are any concerns about her dog's condition and has been told that there aren't - so, either the vets are not telling her the truth about this (which I sincerely doubt) or, they are insisting that all their patients have a check up each month, whether needed or not. Also, the fact that her vet told her to use my prescription would imply that they aren't concerned about the dog's condition!

IMVHO seems to imply that they want to make it as difficult as possible for their clients to obtain medication elsewhere and ensures that they are receiving monthly check-up fees.

Fire_Fox

snowman2 wrote: »

It is the system that the Competition Commission and OFT wanted that is now actually biased against vets that needs changing. I just want a level playing field with wholesale prices. Yes, the internet prices will always be a bit cheaper as they have cheaper overheads but at least I would stand a chance of competing. Some vets wont want to compete and in a free-market that is their choice and your choice whether to use them or not. But I would like to offer a reasonable price allowing for the convenience, speed, expertise that we have compared to an internet site but I can't at the moment. It would be cheaper for me to buy wholesale from some of these pharmacies but I suspect they wont have a wholesaler licence for that.

I think part of the problem is that it is not always quicker and cheaper to use your vet practice than an online company; not all households run a car or don't work near their home address and some online pharmacies will post out the same day. Of course it is convenient for the first prescription as you are at the vets for a consultation, but not necessarily for long term treatment be that for arthritis or de-fleaing. Many juggle their commitments (including veterinary treatment) around payday - that's easier with a faceless company.

I also think vets are experiencing something of what GPs have, people wanting to purchase a quick fix in their lunch hour rather than taking a couple of hours off work for expert advice. While some companies run parasite meds or vaccinations or basic OTC drugs as a 'loss leader', small businesses like yours will suffer. Slightly off topic but I switched GP surgeries because they insisted I collect my script from their reception or pharmacy on the day I ran out - but I work in another town until late. Personal safety is an issue travelling to that pharmacy and to the vet surgery we use.