The veterinary profession’s virtual monopoly of the supply of prescription
medicines for animals has been exercising the minds of veterinary surgeons,
pharmacists, manufacturers and wholesalers lately (pp697-700). This sudden interest
has been stimulated by a Government-ordered review of the procedures by which
veterinary prescription only medicines (POMs) are classified and sold and the
impact current practices may have on their availability and prices.
Veterinary surgeons argue that broadening access to veterinary medicines would
lead to practical problems and would not necessarily lessen the cost of the
medicines or the overall cost of treatment to the client. Veterinary manufacturers
and wholesalers favour the current system because it is so much easier to supply
a handful of veterinary practices rather than a national network of community
pharmacies.
But the Government may well already have decided which way it wants to go. In
human health care, it is currently working to improve access to professional
services by removing monopolies, widening choice and increasing transparency.
It probably expects the veterinary dispensing review to support similar action
in the field of animal health.
In all the circumstances, some relaxation of control on veterinary POMs seems
likely. Indeed, some of the arguments given in favour of the status quo smack
of desperation in the face of impending defeat. If change is to come, it is
important that the various interests should work together to implement the Government’s
demands quickly and smoothly. The Society’s Veterinary Pharmacists Group
is to be commended for proposing interprofessional meetings to discuss the review.
And since the eventual outcome of the review could be an increased opportunity
for pharmacists to make a contribution to animal health, interested pharmacists
would be well advised to join the group if they are not already members.
Consultation has started on a proposed major expansion of nurse prescribing, which the Government aims to implement within a year (p673). While nurses will no doubt warmly welcome the move, pharmacists will wonder why they are being left even further behind. How much longer must the profession wait before its members’ expertise in medicines is recognised by a similar expanded role?