Vet refuses to issue prescription

Misccold

Hi
My vet does not issue prescriptions, they only procure the drugs and sell them directly with a 50% markup.
I would rather pay for a consultation and get a prescription, then I'd get more value for money.
Are they entitled to refuse? I called a different vet and they refused also.

Alun

I don't know but I'd really love to know who exactly is involved in the supply chain between the manufacturer and end customer in Ireland with regard to veterinary medicines and who's making what margins. It's not just the vets who I am sure make a healthy profit on such items, but there's probably one or two middle-men involved along the way who do very little I'm sure.

My cat is currently on fortekor tablets long-term for which my vet charges €35 for 30 tablets. In the UK I could get them online for as little as 34p per tablet, or the equivalent of €11.54 for 30. That's less than a third of the price here.

tk123

Are they not obliged to give you a prescription? I got one recently - €32 for one months supply from vet vs €55 for 6 online from petdrugsonline.co.uk

Pet meds and human meds don't have the same regulations. I don't have time to hunt out the link but in a nutshell the EU allows you to buy them online.

Alun

tk123 wrote: »

Are they not obliged to give you a prescription? I got one recently - €32 for one months supply from vet vs €55 for 6 online from petdrugsonline.co.uk

Can you do this? I thought you couidn't buy drugs, human or animal, over the internet from the UK here?

tk123

Viovet :
'Do you accept prescriptions from outside of the UK?
We are able to send medication to countries outside of the UK under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. For customers within the EU and America a valid prescription is required from a registered vet within the country the medicine is intended to be used.'

I used Parcel Wizard btw which is technically sending to the UK .

muddypaws

My vet has a sign up in the surgery, saying that it's illegal to issue a prescription to be filled outside the state

Alun

muddypaws wrote: »

My vet has a sign up in the surgery, saying that it's illegal to issue a prescription to be filled outside the state

Is it really, or is that just scaremongering?

cocker5

Misccold wrote: »

Hi
My vet does not issue prescriptions, they only procure the drugs and sell them directly with a 50% markup.
I would rather pay for a consultation and get a prescription, then I'd get more value for money.
Are they entitled to refuse? I called a different vet and they refused also.

i asked my vet to give me a prescription for Yumove advance... she doesn't sell it herself, she wasn't happy to be honest but she did in the end. I would have bought it from her had she of sold it. id buy Cody's heart supplement through her plus he there every month or so so she makes plenty from us

Dunno about stuff she sells there though.. i could see her having an issue with that one id say

lazeedaisy

muddypaws wrote: »

My vet has a sign up in the surgery, saying that it's illegal to issue a prescription to be filled outside the state

AFAIK your vet can't supply you with a script knowing you are going online to buy it, that's the legal bit, but your vet must provide a prescription FOC if you want to buy it in this country,

chooey

lazeedaisy wrote: »

AFAIK your vet can't supply you with a script knowing you are going online to buy it, that's the legal bit, but your vet must provide a prescription FOC if you want to buy it in this country,

Your vet has to give you a prescription but it doesn’t have to be free of charge. They can charge for their time to do it, their professional signature etc - it usually seems to be ten/fifteen euro.

If their is an Irish equivalent of the drug, the vet cannot give a prescription knowing you’re going to order from the uk (under the cascade system)

Misccold

chooey wrote: »

Your vet has to give you a prescription but it doesn’t have to be free of charge. They can charge for their time to do it, their professional signature etc - it usually seems to be ten/fifteen euro.

If their is an Irish equivalent of the drug, the vet cannot give a prescription knowing you’re going to order from the uk (under the cascade system)

Please provide the source for this statement, I can't dispute their policy based on a forum post.

Also I don't see how it would be illegal to buy the drugs from another E.U. state, it's a free market.

tk123

Misccold wrote: »

Please provide the source for this statement, I can't dispute their policy based on a forum post.

Also I don't see how it would be illegal to buy the drugs from another E.U. state, it's a free market.

https://www.vci.ie/getmedia/330465fa-50ab-45a0-a473-b530d9e624d3/Ethical-Veterinary-Practice.pdf?ext=.pdf

chooey

Also your vet is more than likely not licenced in the uk so they can not prescribe if they know you are going to go outside the Republic of Ireland. It’s fine if you’re using chemist or similar here

ganmo

chooey wrote: »

Also your vet is more than likely not licenced in the uk so they can not prescribe if they know you are going to go outside the Republic of Ireland. It’s fine if you’re using chemist or similar here

A lot of vets do register in the uk to get the extra letters after their name

Springwell

ganmo wrote: »

A lot of vets do register in the uk to get the extra letters after their name

:pac::pac::pac: Ah yes, we definitely pay the registration for Royal Veterinary College for the extra letter. :rolleyes:

ganmo

Springwell wrote: »

:pac::pac::pac: Ah yes, we definitely pay the registration for Royal Veterinary College for the extra letter. :rolleyes:

LetterS
Why do Irish vets register with them so?

niallers1

The vet would only normally refuse to issue a prescription if they didn't examine the animal. If they examined the animal they should have no issue with giving a 6 month prescription. That was my experience.
Bought drugs from British pharmacy for a big discount over Irish prices.

Misccold

tk123 wrote: »

https://www.vci.ie/getmedia/330465fa-50ab-45a0-a473-b530d9e624d3/Ethical-Veterinary-Practice.pdf?ext=.pdf

That does not say that they must give a prescription.

Springwell

ganmo wrote: »

LetterS
Why do Irish vets register with them so?

Usually for specialty registration or to be allowed to practice cross border

Springwell

Misccold wrote: »

That does not say that they must give a prescription.

If a vet is willing to prescribe a drug in clinic to be dispensed by the clinic for an animal they must instead provide a written prescription for the same drug if requested to be filled in Ireland from another vet clinic or pharmacy.

They are allowed to stipulate only the same restrictions as if the drugs were dispensed in clinic eg six month check ups or bloods.

They are not obliged to provide a prescription if you inform them you will have it filled in the uk as this is not technically legal (or at best a very grey area). So don't bring it up

em_cat

I have no issue purchasing my pets meds directly from my Vets as they supply the correct dosages, but also they are responsible for the meds being issued and have a legal responsibility to a certain degree. Also some meds have to be given from in house as they may be off license or on a restrictive license and thus a script can’t be given, so the animal may need multiple visits for administration.

My vet will also happily give me a script to be filled via a chemist if they can as they know it will be less expensive, even if they have it in house.

In terms of supplements I actually get a better value from our vet, not sure why.

If a vet is refusing a script it’s most defo not b/c they are being greedy, it often has to do with legalities, off license or it’s not needed.

Figerty

em_cat wrote: »

I have no issue purchasing my pets meds directly from my Vets as they supply the correct dosages, but also they are responsible for the meds being issued and have a legal responsibility to a certain degree. Also some meds have to be given from in house as they may be off license or on a restrictive license and thus a script can’t be given, so the animal may need multiple visits for administration.

My vet will also happily give me a script to be filled via a chemist if they can as they know it will be less expensive, even if they have it in house.

In terms of supplements I actually get a better value from our vet, not sure why.

If a vet is refusing a script it’s most defo not b/c they are being greedy, it often has to do with legalities, off license or it’s not needed.

In the farmers Journal a few weeks ago there was a report on how some Vets were disciplined for some issues not too far apart from what you were asking for. Vets' need to be very cautious.

Misccold

em_cat wrote: »

I have no issue purchasing my pets meds directly from my Vets as they supply the correct dosages, but also they are responsible for the meds being issued and have a legal responsibility to a certain degree.

<snip>

Mod note... Entirely inappropriate comment removed. Do not use this forum for such crudeness again.
Thanks,
DBB

misschoo

I’m looking at paying €100 a month for my dogs medication for her newly diagnosed condition. I have looked online and spoken to VioVet where I can get a months supply for €30 a month - same medication - same manufacturer. I have insurance for my dog - but as she’s 7 I will only be able to claim back 65% of cost, pay the first €100 then claim yearly as it’s a long term condition. I will need to wait 12 months while paying €1200 for her meds before I can claim it back which I can’t afford to wait that long.
Why is it ok for VioVet to be able to honour Irish prescriptions etc but a vet in Ireland would say it’s illegal? I’m just confused as I was going to say to my vet that I was going to get it online.

misschoo

I’m looking at paying €100 a month for my dogs medication for her newly diagnosed condition. I have looked online and spoken to VioVet where I can get a months supply for €30 a month - same medication - same manufacturer. I have insurance for my dog - but as she’s 7 I will only be able to claim back 65% of cost, pay the first €100 then claim yearly as it’s a long term condition. I will need to wait 12 months while paying €1200 for her meds before I can claim it back which I can’t afford to wait that long.
Why is it ok for VioVet to be able to honour Irish prescriptions etc but a vet in Ireland would say it’s illegal? I’m just confused as I was going to say to my vet that I was going to get it online.

Sarn

misschoo wrote: »

Why is it ok for VioVet to be able to honour Irish prescriptions etc but a vet in Ireland would say it’s illegal? I’m just confused as I was going to say to my vet that I was going to get it online.

The thing is, it’s not ok for them to honour Irish prescriptions. Even vets can’t import a vet medicine from another Member State without a special licence, in exceptional circumstances, from the Department of Agriculture. At the moment it’s not even permitted to buy prescription medicines from an Irish online store.

tk123

Sarn wrote: »

The thing is, it’s not ok for them to honour Irish prescriptions. Even vets can’t import a vet medicine from another Member State without a special licence, in exceptional circumstances, from the Department of Agriculture. At the moment it’s not even permitted to buy prescription medicines from an Irish online store.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/retail-of-veterinary-medicines#retail-supply-via-the-internet

Vets and pharmacists may export medicines within the EU against prescriptions from vets in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, provided that:

they are satisfied the prescription for the product to be exported is valid
the medicines will be used in the country where the prescription was written

Sarn

Fair enough, but that’s the UK legislation. They may be allowed to export it, but the Irish legislation doesn’t permit the import, without a special licence.

tk123

Sarn wrote: »

Fair enough, but that’s the UK legislation. They may be allowed to export it, but the Irish legislation doesn’t permit the import, without a special licence.

For a saving of €150 which will pay for 6 of his weekly laser therapy sessions at the same vet i’m happy to take the risk of it being seized.

Sarn

tk123 wrote: »

For a saving of €150 which will pay for 6 of his weekly laser therapy sessions at the same vet i’m happy to take the risk of it being seized.

Absolutely, for that saving it’s understandable.

damon5

Just saw this ad on tv https://www.viovet.co.uk/ i havnt a clue about medication prices but thought someone could check it out ...

misschoo

Hi yesterday I’ve been un contact with VioVet and they confirmed that they will send prescriptions to Ireland with a prescription from an Irish vet.

tk123

misschoo wrote: »

Hi yesterday I’ve been un contact with VioVet and they confirmed that they will send prescriptions to Ireland with a prescription from an Irish vet.

I said that 3 weeks ago! I think they were a few pence dearer than petdrugs so I went with them instead. Really quick to dispatch so I’d definitely use them again.