Veterinary Prescriptions and Drug Distribution

Who's in Charge?

Abstract

Veterinarians have come to expect reliable and predictable services from wholesale drug distributors. Due to valid concerns regarding counterfeit human medications and the security of the drug supply chain, changes at the federal and state levels have directly affected veterinary wholesale drug distributors. This manuscript will highlight state and federal regulations that influence production animal medicine business models where veterinary prescription drugs are sold/delivered to end users upon the valid order of a veterinarian within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

This presentation will review federal acts and state statutes and regulations that affect the sale and distribution of prescription drugs used in production animal medicine. Additionally, it focuses on regulatory affairs and regulatory compliance issues that impact practicing veterinarians and veterinary drug distributors.