News item | 03-04-2025 | 13:00
Animal owners must have enough choice in medical care for their animal and not be surprised by high costs. That is the opinion of State Secretary Jean Rummenie of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). A study that the Ministry has carried out shows that prices for veterinary care, in particular for emergency care, have risen sharply in recent decades.
State Secretary Jean Rummenie: “Your pet is your love and sorrow. If your animal is wrong, then of course you want the best care and also know what you pay for that. This is often not clear now, in particular within emergency care. That will change. I have had good conversations with the profession and they will give it priority.”
The profession has announced, within the framework of the formation of one strong professional organization for veterinary professionals, to get started with standardization in the field of transparency and the availability of emergency care. The Ministry will support and accelerate this development by offering financial support and wants to invest € 250,000.
Research for veterinary rates
Research agency Ecorys has commissioned the Ministry of LVVN to investigate the price development of veterinary rates. It is a first step to get a better grip on what is happening in the market for veterinary care and what we, together with the profession, can do to make owners make a good choice in the care of their animal.
The report shows that the rates for all types of care (regular care and emergency care together) have risen 2 to 2.5 times faster in that period than inflation. The biggest rise took place in the period before the chains had entered. The report also describes the causes for this rise, such as a huge change in supply and demand, in combination with the professionalization of veterinary care. The rates for emergency care have risen stronger, 3 to 3.5 times faster than inflation. The rates of chains compared to independent practices are approximately 6% to 10% higher for regular care, and approximately 40% higher for emergency care.
“The hefty price increases in emergency care, in combination with the increasing role of chains in the organization and the supply of emergency care and the possible consequences of chain formation for competition and freedom of choice, I find worrying,” says Rummenie. “But at the same time I also see that chains play an important – and often specialized – role in the care of pets.”
Research ACM
The State Secretary is pleased that the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has started an investigation into market forces in veterinary care. Rummenie: “It is of great importance that the market functions well, with sufficient competition on offer and price.”
The State Secretary asked the ACM whether in their investigation they want to include the freedom of choice of the consumer in regular care and, in particular, in emergency care. “In addition, I asked the ACM to make recommendations about any market power in veterinary care, in particular about the position of chains in emergency care. As soon as the ACM has finished their research, I will look at, in close cooperation with the Minister of Economic Affairs, whether additional measures are needed.”
Deployment of paraveterinaires
In order to alleviate the costs and the workload for veterinarians, the Ministry of LVVN is currently investigating the possibilities for having certain treatments done by paraveterinaries instead of by veterinarians. This together with the commitment to a well -functioning market and improving the information position of the consumer realizes the solid approach.