16/10/2025
UK VETS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR OVER CHARGING
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the UK veterinary sector because of concerns that vet practices are overcharging horse and pet owners.
The investigation actually started back in September 2023 into potential market issues like a lack of price transparency and high prescription costs - where customers can easily buy prescriptions far cheaper outside of their vet practices.
Proposed measures to address this include requiring more price transparency on vet websites, creating a price comparison website, and capping prescription fees at around £16.
Average prices in the sector have increased by 63% between 2016 and 2023, which significantly outpaces UK inflation rates.
The investigation is pushing for price transparency to customers. At the moment many practices do not publish comprehensive price lists, and owners are often unaware of costs until after a service is agreed upon.
The investigation is overtly aware of a lack of competition in the UK veterinary sector and the associated risk of the large vet chains charging more than the small independant practices in a sector that is worth £6 billion in the UK.
At the moment the UK vet sector is dominated by large corporate groups, leading to concerns that competition is weak, particularly in areas with multiple practices owned by the same company.
The investigation has revealed a practice of vastly overcharging for prescriptions. Some practices are reportedly selling medicines for 3 to 4 times the purchase cost, and owners are often unaware they can get prescriptions from their vet to buy medication elsewhere.
The investigation is deeply concerned at the profits that the UK Vet Sector is making. It found that for a substantial part of the market, profits are believed to be much higher than they should be if competition was working well.
The CMA is expected to publish its final decision by March 2026, with some of the proposed changes potentially coming into effect as early as the end of 2025.
www.insightsmagazine.co.uk
