Pet Drug Rules Face Scrutiny Amid Affordability Concerns
Regulators are being pressed to reassess veterinary drug prescription rules after a study highlighted access barriers.
Calls are mounting for regulators to re-evaluate current veterinary drug prescription protocols. A recent analysis suggests that existing regulations, particularly concerning the prescribing cascade, may hinder access to necessary treatments for numerous pet owners due to cost constraints.
Study Highlights Affordability Issues
A newly released paper by VetSurgeon.org, drawing from a survey of over 1,100 clinicians conducted late last year, brings to light the financial strain experienced by pet owners.
The survey revealed that over 25% of respondents reported pet owners “very often” unable to afford licensed drugs, which vets are mandated to prescribe. Extrapolating this, the paper estimates that approximately 8,400 pet owners weekly, totaling nearly 440,000 annually, face this barrier across the UK.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly 40% of pet owners have difficulty affording veterinary care, often leading to delayed or forgone treatments (AVMA 2024).
VMD Response and Industry Stance
Despite the findings, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has stated it has “no plans”
for a review. A major industry group maintains that the current system should be protected, citing potential risks associated with reform.
David Mills, co-author of the paper, described the study’s findings as “quite shocking,”
advocating for reform. He contends that the present system primarily benefits pharmaceutical companies and has created a “drug purgatory,”
marked by increasing costs for both veterinary practices and pet owners.
CMA Investigation as a Catalyst for Change
Mills expressed uncertainty regarding the appetite for change within regulatory bodies. He suggested that the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation could serve as a “very powerful tool”
to instigate reform.
Mills urges the CMA to consider the study’s findings, emphasizing the real-world evidence it provides regarding the impact of the cascade on veterinary drug affordability. He hopes the CMA will prioritize addressing medication costs, which he believes are pricing many owners out of affording care.
Conflicting Views on the Current System
While cascade reform was suggested by CMA inquiry chair Martin Coleman at last year’s London Vet Show, many veterinary groups have voiced their support for the existing system.
The VMD stated that current legislation “ensures the safe use of veterinary medicines and the protection of public health and the environment.”
They added that they do not plan to review the prescribing cascade or promote the use of human medicines over veterinary medicines.
NOAH argues that the present system “already provides vets with the flexibility they need to ensure effective, affordable care while maintaining rigorous safety and efficacy standards.”
A NOAH spokesperson warned that change could undermine species-specific treatment, responsible medicine use, and animal health innovation. They also noted the absence of a pharmacovigilance process for using human medicines in animals, emphasizing the need to protect a system that balances access with safety.
The RCVS stated its support for enhanced consumer protection through mandatory practice regulation, currently under discussion with Defra, but considers cascade changes a matter for the VMD.
