health
Why do vets charge more to scan an animal than a private hospital would to scan a human?
With prices at the vets soaring by more than 60% since 2016, tests such as MRI scans for dogs can exceed £3,500
TL;DR
- VAT is applied to veterinary bills at 20%, unlike most private human healthcare.
- Animals require general anesthesia for scans, necessitating additional staff and monitoring, accounting for 25-40% of the cost.
- Veterinary diagnostic machines are used less frequently than in human hospitals, increasing the cost per use due to fixed installation, servicing, and energy expenses.
- Unlike human hospitals with on-site radiologists, vets often have to pay for external interpretation of scan results.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has highlighted rising veterinary prices, partly due to consolidation of practices and lack of cost transparency.
- New CMA regulations require vets to publish prices and provide written estimates for treatments over £500, aiming to improve transparency and enable price comparison.