My dog underwent a desexing procedure a year and a half ago. Last month she had developed incontinence as a direct result of this. Not to mention I was not adequately informed about the significant risk of incontinence post desexing, this condition requires lifelong medication, for which I must obtain a prescription from my veterinarian. This lack of informed consent has resulted in considerable emotional distress and unforeseen financial burden. The ongoing cost of prescriptions and medication is substantial and was not factored into my budget.

Furthermore, I am deeply troubled by the Australian Department of Health's requirement that a hard copy of the veterinary prescription be physically presented to the medication supplier (as stated on [https://www.petcirclepharma.com.au/how-it-works/ In this digital age, this requirement is unnecessarily cumbersome and inefficient.

The current process necessitates that I travel to the veterinarian's office to obtain a printed prescription, then physically mail it to the supplier, and subsequently await the arrival of the medication. This antiquated system introduces unnecessary delays, wastes valuable time and resources for all parties involved, and seems entirely incongruous with modern technological capabilities. A simple, secure email transmission of the prescription directly from the veterinarian to the supplier would be a far more efficient and environmentally responsible solution.

I urge the Department of Health to investigate the outdated prescription dispensing requirements. I request a review of the policy mandating hard copy prescriptions and the implementation of a more streamlined, efficient, and modern system.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to a prompt response and a resolution to these concerns.