CMA final report out now. Some parts good (identifying corporate ownership) but much of it is a farce.
Regarding prescription fees, many vets charge less than the cap. I suspect some of these may charge the full amount they can so costs will go up to the client.
Others will charge medicines at cost price but charge a separate prescription fee to everyone, not just for written prescriptions. This will mean that for some medicines, the cost will go up.
Plus, one of the big issues discussed is that corporates have taken over the industry and this has caused a lot of the problems and price rises. Those same corporates own the major online pharmacies. Getting clients to ask for written prescriptions will take more money away from independent practices (who often can't match online pharmacies because the latter get massive wholesale discounts due to volume of sales), and give it to a handful of corporates. Please could someone explain to me how the CMA isn't doing the opposite of what it claims and actually creating an anti-competitive environment which favours a handful of corporates.
A competitive environment is one with lots of small businesses, not a handful of large ones who can throw their weight around and do as they please. Look at supermarkets for example.
Regarding prescription fees, many vets charge less than the cap. I suspect some of these may charge the full amount they can so costs will go up to the client.
Others will charge medicines at cost price but charge a separate prescription fee to everyone, not just for written prescriptions. This will mean that for some medicines, the cost will go up.
Plus, one of the big issues discussed is that corporates have taken over the industry and this has caused a lot of the problems and price rises. Those same corporates own the major online pharmacies. Getting clients to ask for written prescriptions will take more money away from independent practices (who often can't match online pharmacies because the latter get massive wholesale discounts due to volume of sales), and give it to a handful of corporates. Please could someone explain to me how the CMA isn't doing the opposite of what it claims and actually creating an anti-competitive environment which favours a handful of corporates.
A competitive environment is one with lots of small businesses, not a handful of large ones who can throw their weight around and do as they please. Look at supermarkets for example.
