Watchdog launches formal investigation as vet bills double since 2015

National World - LocalTV

Are medical bills for our pets becoming too expensive? As the CMA launches an investigation into the veterinary sector, charities like the Blue Cross, welcome the decision.

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00:00 Could the price of prescription medications for our pets soon be capped?

00:06 The Competition and Markets Authority is launching an investigation into the fairness of pricing

00:10 in the veterinary sector and capping the price of meds is just one of the measures they're

00:15 suggesting.

00:16 There are an estimated 16 million UK households with pets and the CMA said they've heard from

00:21 pet owners who are struggling to afford the cost of care and who are not sure of the full

00:25 scale of their treatment options.

00:27 Animal welfare charities like the Blue Cross welcome the Watch Dogs probe, saying they

00:31 hope it will help professionals to adopt a more pragmatic and transparent approach with

00:35 their patients, especially around the cost of medicine and other treatment options available

00:40 to them.

00:42 The Office for National Statistics estimated that the price of pet services across the

00:45 board, including vet care, has doubled since 2015, far exceeding the rate of inflation.

00:51 Have you noticed the cost of looking after a pet increasing in recent years?

00:55 Those working in the charity sector have not only seen an increase in their running costs,

00:59 but also a rise in service users seeking them out as a result of being unable to afford

01:03 treatment.

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