The wrestling match on veterinary prescriptions continues. An April 29 hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee addressed the pet medication industry, including the Fairness to Pet Owners Act (HR 3174/S 1200), legislation that would federally mandate prescription writing for veterinarians. The subcommittee is currently reviewing the House bill that is intended to address a purported lack of competition in the pet medication industry.
Source: JAVMA News, June 1, 2016.
AVMA Board of Directors Chair John de Jong in April told a House subcommittee that requiring veterinarians to provide portable prescriptions for all prescribed pet medications, regardless of whether clients request them, is unnecessary and unduly burdensome on veterinarians and small businesses.
INSIGHTS: Human pharmacy competencies to handle and manage the dispensing of veterinary prescriptions are not referenced in his article and remain suspect. Clearly, a veterinary pharmacist or a veterinary pharmacist specialist requires additional education to be able to support a veterinary prescription. Additionally, issues about quality control and substitution remain uncomfortable for DVMs when an online source is chosen.