Vets uncowed by fee article
CMAJ 1997;157:1015
Your brief article "Veterinarians' suggested fees may leave physicians feeling ill" (CMAJ 1997;156:1689 [full text]) compared the Ontario Veterinary Fee Guide with fees paid to Ontario physicians. The comparisons may be interesting but they are somewhat misleading because veterinarians have to cover expenses that physicians do not. It only stands to reason that their fees for comparable tests and procedures have to be higher.
Veterinarians do feel fortunate to be operating in an environment free of government regulation with regard to establishing fees, although there are regional exceptions. Veterinarians must sell their services and justify their fees daily, and there is no shortage of veterinarians in most Canadian communities. This means that the consumer has choice and the assurance of competition in the area of fees. Certainly veterinarians in my practice area would not be here very long if we were being remunerated at the rate physicians are paid by governments.
Ken L. Mould, BSc, DVM
Winnipeg, Man.
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