Medication Dispensing

[witheverythingiam]

You still haven't given me a good argument why pet meds should be marked up 100%. Yes, vets have overheads - so do GP's. The consultation fee is the same. My GPs doesn't charge for a script if it's given to me as part of a consultation. Nor does my regular vet. But the vet specialist DOES.

This was answered - perhaps you need to go back & read through the posts?

Most Vets are little practices with 1 or 2 Vets, they're expected to keep on stock a whole pharmacy of medication, even ones which may hardly ever be used like tick & snake anti-venom, "just in case". They are usually a micro-business, which doesn't have much money coming in. Any medication they buy (in small quantities) has to be from Veterinary Wholesalers. Who said medications are marked up 100%? Where did you pull that figure from?

They can not compete with huge chains of Chemist Wholesalers who buy 1000's of products at a time, which means costing less/item for the more bought.

Think about it.

-WithEverythingIAm

PS - you have 2 (d) points

[Crisovar]

I think Mum to Emma that you are assuming that Vets pay the same price for the drugs that the pharmacy does, in fact it is generally more expensive.

[New Age Outlaw]

This was answered - perhaps you need to go back & read through the posts?

Most Vets are little practices with 1 or 2 Vets, they're expected to keep on stock a whole pharmacy of medication, even ones which may hardly ever be used like tick & snake anti-venom, "just in case". They are usually a micro-business, which doesn't have much money coming in. Any medication they buy (in small quantities) has to be from Veterinary Wholesalers. Who said medications are marked up 100%? Where did you pull that figure from?

They can not compete with huge chains of Chemist Wholesalers who buy 1000's of products at a time, which means costing less/item for the more bought.

Think about it.

-WithEverythingIAm

Not to mention the cost of writing off medications that have passed their use by date without being used - 100% loss to the vet. Especially in a small practice this would be a considerable cost each year.

[poocow]

I don't think my vet has ever charged me a dispensing fee. But then again Darcy is a very special dog

My doc charges me $5 a script - but then you save money as you don't pay for an unnecessary appointment.

Edited October 6, 2008 by poocow

[Miss B]

Mum to Emma, do you actually understand the difference between dogs and humans?

The human medical system versus veterinary practices... it's apples and oranges I'm afraid, so there is absolutely no point in comparing the two.