Drug Price Tracker
- Thread starter stablegirl
- Start date
It's rare you don't have choice of practices, and there is always the prescription route.
I'd be quite happy doing everything on prescription (I'd make more money) but people wouldn't want to pay for one for a single tube of eye ointment, so they are only interested with higher value items. That is where it all gets unfair.
I'd still much rather work with you to reduce disease and reliance on medicines, than argue about absolute cost.
I'd be quite happy doing everything on prescription (I'd make more money) but people wouldn't want to pay for one for a single tube of eye ointment, so they are only interested with higher value items. That is where it all gets unfair.
I'd still much rather work with you to reduce disease and reliance on medicines, than argue about absolute cost.
I assume you are in the UK?
Vets have to be prepared to write a prescription for any medication they would be willing to supply to you. There are exceptions where the drug would be only administered by the vet or in an emergency. The vet can charge any fee that is 'reasonable'. We base it on the average time taken to check the record, type up the prescription etc. It naturally takes longer to do that than dispense the product.
Only if the fee charged was ridiculous would there be grounds for complaint.
The rules (both vet medicine and farm assurance) also state that drugs should be prescribed in a 'usual' manner and you can't stockpile. So if you usually buy 1 bottle of Alamycin LA each week, you can't ask for a prescription for 52 bottles to last for a year, but selling a pet owner a prescription for a box of 6 Fronline Combo for their dog would be ok if you would usually do that (apply every 2 months, so a 12 month supply).
Does that make sense?
Vets have to be prepared to write a prescription for any medication they would be willing to supply to you. There are exceptions where the drug would be only administered by the vet or in an emergency. The vet can charge any fee that is 'reasonable'. We base it on the average time taken to check the record, type up the prescription etc. It naturally takes longer to do that than dispense the product.
Only if the fee charged was ridiculous would there be grounds for complaint.
The rules (both vet medicine and farm assurance) also state that drugs should be prescribed in a 'usual' manner and you can't stockpile. So if you usually buy 1 bottle of Alamycin LA each week, you can't ask for a prescription for 52 bottles to last for a year, but selling a pet owner a prescription for a box of 6 Fronline Combo for their dog would be ok if you would usually do that (apply every 2 months, so a 12 month supply).
Does that make sense?
stablegirl
Member
- Location
- North
Bovine i am in no way disrespecting your profession, i appreciate you need to run a 24hr a day service, study for a remarkably long amount of time and have a ridiculous amount of paperwork to keep right.
But there is nothing wrong with xomparing prices. When you go and buy a tractor you spend a lot of money, however the service, fuel economy, reliability and cost of parts all play aswell as depreciation all play a huge part in their "value" but its still uswful to compare what different dealer's charge.
A foot trimmer is someone who does a difficult job on farm. They have a big responsibility the better they do their job the less they are required to treat the same cow, the less blocks wraps etc they sell. Like a vet they are much better use in a proactive manner and they give advice on how to reduce your problems. But still we would compare the price of them while bearing in mind the service they offer.
A silage contractor will have their prices compared but if one doesn't turn up when you need them it'll cost your buissess thousands, however they still need to charge a reasonable figure.
The list goes on including things such as a consultant, a nutrition or a lawyer if you needed one.
I didn't belittle or disrespect your profession, please don't do it to others. The original post is not unreasonable.
But there is nothing wrong with xomparing prices. When you go and buy a tractor you spend a lot of money, however the service, fuel economy, reliability and cost of parts all play aswell as depreciation all play a huge part in their "value" but its still uswful to compare what different dealer's charge.
A foot trimmer is someone who does a difficult job on farm. They have a big responsibility the better they do their job the less they are required to treat the same cow, the less blocks wraps etc they sell. Like a vet they are much better use in a proactive manner and they give advice on how to reduce your problems. But still we would compare the price of them while bearing in mind the service they offer.
A silage contractor will have their prices compared but if one doesn't turn up when you need them it'll cost your buissess thousands, however they still need to charge a reasonable figure.
The list goes on including things such as a consultant, a nutrition or a lawyer if you needed one.
I didn't belittle or disrespect your profession, please don't do it to others. The original post is not unreasonable.
I for one would not be happy about the per litre charge. My vet bill is partly a reflection on how well I run the business. A per litre charge would mean that I was potentially subsidising those who are less careful.
Regarding drug price. When I mentioned to a drug rep a few years ago about the price difference between two practices for one of the drugs he supplies, he indicated that one practice bought a lot more than the other and thus had a bigger discount. Different vets tended to favour different suppliers.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
If there are cheaper drugs available on line is there a reason why you can't buy them this way too? I think I know the obvious answer but thought I'd ask anyway.
I believe our vets buy through some sort of buying group, they gave me the impression that most do the same.
It is an interesting point - the newer practice may well have better facilities, better trained staff and work to a higher level. People are often really keen on older male vets who act as though they know everything, but can practice rather poor and old fashioned medicine.
If you want good, well trained vets and good facilities then they are to pay for. I can't think of much worse than going through life as average. Your animal gets better treatment and you get better advice, but you will get a bigger bill. Ultimately the prognosis and treatment is the small animal is more accurate and the animal better treated and the prevention and herd health benefits shine in large animals.
Sometimes what people think makes a good vet and what does are very different things.
If you want good, well trained vets and good facilities then they are to pay for. I can't think of much worse than going through life as average. Your animal gets better treatment and you get better advice, but you will get a bigger bill. Ultimately the prognosis and treatment is the small animal is more accurate and the animal better treated and the prevention and herd health benefits shine in large animals.
Sometimes what people think makes a good vet and what does are very different things.
My previous favourite vet had a special interest in cardiology, she wasn't of the variety you mention although I've certainly met them before. She was very proactive and up to date. Interestingly vet's don't tend to stay long at the current place who actually have bigger premises but no additional equipment. The other difference is charging for completing insurance claim forms. I think a fee for an initial or complex form is understandable but when it's a chronic condition and they charge for each form it's unreasonable. I see your point but the truth is that some vets do overcharge.
What a generalisation. Typical of the young arrogant males we luckily seldom see at our practice. Give me an experienced older vet or a caring young vet rather than an arrogant know it all any day. There are good and bad vets in all but the arrogant ones so well represented on here will never learn anything because they read it all in a book.
I deal with a very modern large practice with the good older and the good younger but none of the arrogance. The bill are cheap in my opinion and more than competitive.
Generalisations are lazy and wholly inaccurate.
stablegirl
Member
- Location
- North
Anyway, this was never meant as a slagging off vet thread.
If anyone has a bill handy and feels comfortable doing it just add a few prices, as bovine etc pointed out its better put into context by adding the hourly charge/call out and a few details.
If anyone has a bill handy and feels comfortable doing it just add a few prices, as bovine etc pointed out its better put into context by adding the hourly charge/call out and a few details.
- Location
- M6 Hard shoulder
Halocur 480ml £68.33 +vat
Normally I would buy certain vaccine from our vet but this week I ordered through Wessex as one was 10% cheaper and the other vaccine was 25% cheaper.
The 25% cheaper one was Rotovec corona and the practice secretary spun a yarn of short supply trying to palm off a special price on 5 dose packs.
Maybe vets should become sub agents for the large suppliers working in conjunction with them and getting a commission on what they supply in their area.
The 25% cheaper one was Rotovec corona and the practice secretary spun a yarn of short supply trying to palm off a special price on 5 dose packs.
Maybe vets should become sub agents for the large suppliers working in conjunction with them and getting a commission on what they supply in their area.