For pet owners, visit to the vet still a financially harrowing experience
![A vet treats a dog at an animal hospital in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Jan. 5. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/02/18/5a13121b-f23a-4798-ad88-1f56304b0773.jpg)
A vet treats a dog at an animal hospital in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Jan. 5. [NEWS1]
Pet owners are still blindsided over the bill when visiting a vet, even after the Veterinarians Act was enacted in January, requiring animal hospitals to post their prices publically.
According to the revised Veterinarians Act, implemented on Jan. 5, hospitals must display a notice explaining the cost of 11 services, including checkups, vaccinations, X-rays, hospitalizations and consultations.
The notice must be posted in easily visible places, such as the reception desk or the front of their home page.
The hospital will receive a warning from the local government for the first violation. For subsequent violations, the hospital faces fines of up to 900,000 won ($ 675).
The revision was introduced in response to complaints from pet owners, saying that the cost of a checkup varied considerably between hospitals, with some exams costing hundreds of thousands of won.
"It differs depending on the dog's breed and whether it has any preexisting diseases," a pet hospital employee in Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul, said after the customer asked about the cost of her pet's blood test.
"The price of a basic blood test starts at 30,000 won. However, the final payment may vary depending on the type of blood test required. It is necessary to consult the vet to know the exact cost."
The employee added, "The consultation fee also differs depending on what the customer consults about."
No notices near the hospital's reception desk informed the payment for each item or service.
Some hospitals use tricks by putting the notice on a wall far from the reception desk.
When asked where to find the payment notice in the corner of the doctors' room, an employee at a local vet in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, pointed to the notice, adding, "Although we posted a notice, we often provide additional explanations verbally."
Some places do not include fees such as basic vaccinations and X-ray tests on their notices and inform customers to consult the doctor to determine the exact payment.
A pet hospital in Mapo District, western Seoul, suggested an additional test not on the notice when the customer asked about the vaccination fee for her cat.
"An antibody test is required to know the exact payment as vaccinations differ depending on the cat's age, breed and vaccination dates," the pet hospital in Mapo District, western Seoul, told the customer.
The revised law requests hospitals to post their fees on their websites so customers can be informed without a visit. However, in the real world, hospitals rarely implement the rule.
Pet owners claim that unexpected medical expenses are inevitable even if the basic fees are posted beforehand, as additional costs often occur during consultation and treatment.
They emphasize that the current implementation does not provide pet owners with the information they desire regarding their pet's medical care.
The act requires animal hospitals to disclose only 11 items, which are limited to the basic examination fee and some vaccinations. This does not inform pet owners of the cost of surgical procedures, treatments and additional tests, which can cost a fortune.
"It is hard to ask how much it costs each time the hospital suggests an additional test," Kim, a pet owner, told the JoongAng Ilbo. "I'm always surprised when I receive the receipt and see the due total."
Given the situation, pet owners share their pet's medical expenses by comparing receipts online.
An owner posted an image of a receipt.
"I paid a total of 205,000 won," they said. "Some 20,000 won for dental consultation, 25,000 won for a blood test, 110,000 won for a biochemical profile test, and 50,000 won for radiation treatment."
Pet owners are calling for standardized medical fees to avoid unexpected costs during their pet's medical procedure.
"All we ask is that you at least provide the average cost for expensive surgeries and treatments, given that applying a single standard to every breed is difficult," the Korea Pet Parents Institute said.
The Korea Veterinary Medical Association says that standardizing expenses would prove difficult due to variations in examinations and treatments between pet hospitals.
"It is difficult to know the pet's problems before vets meet them in person as they cannot speak for themselves," the association said. "Also, if such regulations are implemented, the government should take measures to partially support fees as pet hospitals are in the private sector."
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, local governments will crack down on establishments that fail to display medical fees starting next month.
The ministry also plans to increase the number of mandatory items that must be posted to 20 during the first half of this year.
BY JEONG SAE-HEE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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