The cost of maintaining a healthy horse will soon skyrocket, if potential changes to medication fees in this country go through. Health Canada has proposed increases to veterinary drug service fees which would lead to higher prices for some medications, and the elimination of others. Not only would this hit horse owners in the pocketbook, but it would put many horses’ health at risk.

According to a report commissioned by the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), Health Canada is seeking to increase service fees associated with regulatory reviews for animal drugs in addition to ongoing quality oversight of licensed products, similar to human medicine fee structures. The increases would range between 169 to 500% by April 2019, and would affect more than half of the veterinary drugs for livestock and companion animals.

The CAHI, which is a trade association representing the developers, manufacturers and distributors of animal pharmaceuticals, biologics, feed additives and animal pesticides in Canada, says such substantial increases in our small Canadian market would present significant challenges for their members as well as Canadian veterinarians and owners of food and companion animals.

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