We want to continue to have the option to purchase animal medication at affordable rates through pharmacies and not only from the prescribing veterinarian’s office.

 

CDMV, the only distributor of veterinary drugs in Quebec, abruptly ceased their distribution to its pharmacist customers.

 

This decision was without notice, without justification and for no reason. This deprives many people in the field of animal rescue, animal shelters and pet owners, affordable access to medication.

 

This decision is causing serious harm to all those working with animals since they are now cut off from affordable accessibility with their pharmacies and their prescriptions, 7 days a week.

 

This directly affects the health and well-being of animals as access to drug treatments will be limited due to the higher prices in the clinic, jeopardizing animal treatments. Financially, the task is becoming more and more difficult.

 

With these savings from their pharmacist, people can afford to invest a little more money in veterinary care and/or in higher quality food for their animals.

 

For those less fortunate, this was the only way they could continue to care for and keep their pets rather than having to make a heartbreaking choice for lack of resources. 

 

In Quebec there is no universal drug insurance for animals like there is for humans, and private insurance is marginal and expensive. Healthy competition is therefore the only way to keep the prices of veterinary medication at a fair and reasonable level.

 

CDMV's decision creates a monopoly, and the ones paying the price are the animals. This decision is unfair and cruel to say the least.

 

CDMV is not a private company. Its main shareholder is Investissement Québec, which belongs to the Government of Québec. The Government must ensure equitable access to essential goods such as veterinary drugs for all citizens and preserve the free choice of a health professional. In the name of social justice, we, the owners of pets and animal shelters, ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. André Lamontagne, to intervene with CDMV, so that the latter reconsiders his decision and gives his pharmacist clients full access to veterinary drugs, this way everyone can continue to help animals is this difficult, challenging and expensive work.