英國獸醫可能會面臨他們提供的藥物的臨時價格上限

競爭和市場管理局（CMA）還可以使獸醫顯示出處方和分配費用的價格

British vets could face a temporary price cap on the medicines they offer as the regulator investigates concerns that pet owners are being ripped off.

當監管機構調查寵物主人被剝奪的擔憂時，英國獸醫可能會在他們提供的藥物上面臨臨時價格上限。

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) could also make vets display their prices for prescription and dispensing fees, medicines, surgeries, treatments and out-of-hours help clearly online and in practices, according to a working paper released on Thursday.

根據周四發布的一份工作文件，競爭和市場管理局（CMA）還可以使獸醫以處方和分配費用，藥物，手術，治療和時間外的方式顯示其價格清楚地在線和實踐中。

The competition watchdog is looking into the veterinary industry after 56,000 people raised concerns about the sector, including that they are overpaying for medicines and prescriptions and are not being given basic information such as price lists and prescription costs.

在56,000人對該行業提出關注之後，競爭對手正在研究獸醫行業，包括他們對藥品和處方的款項過多，並且沒有獲得基本信息，例如價格清單和處方費用。

In its working paper, the CMA said it was considering a cap on the mark-ups that vet practices can make when selling cremations, which were sold to pet owners “at a vulnerable moment”.

CMA在其工作論文中說，它正在考慮獸醫實踐在出售火葬時可以製作的標記上的上限，這些小火葬是在“脆弱的時刻”出售給寵物主人的。

It said it was considering the possible benefits and risks of implementing a short-term, temporary ‘stabilising’ freeze or cap on medicine prices.

它說，它正在考慮實施短期，臨時“穩定”凍結或限製藥品價格的可能收益和風險。

The paper reads: “While our strong preference is to support consumers to get the best prices and drive competition within the existing market structure, we are considering the possible benefits and risks of implementing a short-term, temporary ‘stabilising’ freeze or cap on medicine prices while the competition benefits of the broader package of measures come into effect.”

該論文寫道：“雖然我們的強烈偏愛是支持消費者獲得最優惠的價格並推動現有市場結構內的競爭，但我們正在考慮實施短期，臨時的“穩定”凍結或限製藥品價格的可能的收益和風險，而更廣泛的措施的競爭益處也呈現出較廣泛的措施。”

The regulator has previously said it was concerned over the impact of recent consolidation in the sector as large groups have bought out swathes of independent practices, and has raised the prospect of vets having to provide information as to whether they are part of a larger corporate or business entity.

監管機構此前曾表示，由於大型團體已經買斷了許多獨立實踐，因此對最近合併的影響很擔心，並且提高了獸醫必須提供有關它們是較大公司還是企業實體的一部分的信息。

It said it was also looking at the link between treatments offered by vets and bonuses, including the use of “targets or financial incentives, which limit vets’ clinical freedom to provide a choice of treatments suited to the pet owner and animal’s requirements”.

它說，它還正在研究獸醫提供的治療方法和獎金之間的聯繫，包括使用“目標或經濟激勵措施，這限制了獸醫的臨床自由，以提供適合寵物主和動物要求的治療方法的選擇”。

The paper said: “If a package containing some or all of these remedies were put into place, we expect that it would empower consumers with greater understanding of the treatment and other options open to them and the different vet practices that could provide these services.

該論文說：“如果採用包含某些或全部這些補救措施的包裹，我們希望它將使消費者能夠對治療和其他選擇的其他選擇以及可以提供這些服務的不同獸醫實踐的其他選擇。

“This would allow pet owners more easily to choose the right option for their preferences, budget and pet’s circumstances.”

“這將使寵物主人更容易為其偏好，預算和寵物的情況選擇正確的選擇。”

Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: “Millions of households across the UK consider their pet an important part of the family, however Which? research has shown that pet owners feel exposed to bad practices like unclear pricing and unnecessary treatment if their pet falls ill.

哪個？政策與倡導總監羅西奧·康查（Rocio Concha）說：“英國各地的數百萬家庭認為他們的寵物是家庭的重要組成部分，但是，哪些研究表明，如果寵物的寵物生病了，寵物主人會感到寵物的寵物覺得自己受到了不明確的定價和不必要的待遇。

“Shopping around and getting reliable information about paying for vet services is much more difficult than it should be, so it’s right that the CMA is proposing changes that would introduce much greater transparency and make it easier for pet owners to find affordable treatment and medication.

“四處逛逛並獲得有關支付獸醫服務的可靠信息，比應該更加困難，因此，CMA提出的更改是正確的，這些更改將引入更大的透明度，並使寵物主人更容易找到負擔得起的治療和藥物。

“It’s also clear that the regulation of this market is outdated, to the detriment of both pet owners and vet practices. The Government needs to act quickly to modernise this once the CMA confirms its recommendations.”

“同樣很明顯，該市場的監管已經過時，損害了寵物主和獸醫實踐。一旦CMA確認了其建議，政府就需要迅速採取行動以使其現代化。”