MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Bob Russell — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 09:09:09 GMT

But why two out of three wholesalers? Not sure this is much of an explanation.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 18:26:14 GMT

more news on the supplier change: https://www.vetsurgeon.org/news/b/veterinary-news/posts/msd-explains-benefits-of-new-supply-model

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Rob Loxley — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 18:16:18 GMT

Given the we are the faces of ‘faceless corporate types’ I’m not sure that’s much better? ;)

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 12:59:31 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227175#227175"]The buying process for veterinary medicines is a mess. [/quote]

Is it? I can currently buy the same product from NVS, Covetrus or Centaur and I pay exactly the same price. Where is the competition?

This whole issue could actually be the shake up that we need. Keep the companies on their toes. I've already found it enlightening having an NVS account and being able to see the prices of things where they do vary - eg human meds. I already source things from a number of sources due to price, choice and availability - I don't really need one massive wholesaler where I can buy anything from drugs to coffee and tea.

I'm not sure I see this as a massive hardship.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Bob Russell — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:53:54 GMT

All getting at cross purposes.

One main wholesaler is being frozen out presumably to put pressure on the others to save MSD money. What happens when the remaining two wholesalers are put under pressure to compete against each other?

The buying process for veterinary medicines is a mess.

The buying groups designed to allow groups of vets to negotiate better deals have been sold to the very wholesalers they are supposed to independently negotiate best prices with. We are still expected to pay management fees for these non-independent entities that have clear conflicts of interests.

Computer systems, referral centres, on-line so called pharmacies now all owned by a few corporates.

As a profession we were hit by the Monopolies Commission for being a complex monopoly. It is now more of a monopoly and a heck of a lot more complex.

Perhaps it is time for a group of independent practices to get together to negotiate the best deals with the drugs companies - sound familiar?

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:00:14 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227172#227172"]It's not the same thing, you still see, talk and interact with these clients when you issue their prescription. [/quote]

I wonder if we are talking at cross purposes here? My understanding is that you still need to issue the prescription, so you still see, talk and interact with clients.

Its just the fulfilment of the prescription, which presumably quite a few clients already do elsewhere now.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Bob Russell — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:57:46 GMT

Hence the use of the wording corporate type! Perhaps the wording should be faceless corporate type!

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Dinu Catilina — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:42:41 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227170#227170"]With you, of course, but what percentage of clients already fulfil their prescriptions elsewhere? [/quote]

It's not the same thing, you still see, talk and interact with these clients when you issue their prescription.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Rob Loxley — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:39:31 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227169#227169"]Over the year we get to know our clients and patients well because of the regular contact. It may suit a corporate type practice[/quote]

We do likewise, yet are a corporate practice - you seem to suggest the two are mutually exclusive?

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:08:01 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227167#227167"]Do I want the client to build a relationship with my business or with a supplier?[/quote]

With you, of course, but what percentage of clients already fulfil their prescriptions elsewhere? If a lot, then is this move going to make much odds, and might the more pragmatic question be what other relationship-building exercise could replace it?

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227169#227169"]I cannot see any benefit with reducing our choice of wholesaler[/quote]

The press release didn't explicitly say, so it will be interesting to hear the answer to my question.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Bob Russell — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:01:02 GMT

Over the year we get to know our clients and patients well because of the regular contact. It may suit a corporate type practice or a pile em up high sell em cheap type place but we work very hard to build up a relationship that works.

I cannot see any benefit with reducing our choice of wholesaler but this is just one more move to control the market.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Dinu Catilina — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 09:52:19 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227164#227164"]This seems to be early stages of a bypass of practices. [/quote]

Zoetis is already doing this, they can post the flea products and wormers directly to the client's house from their warehouse.

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227165#227165"]Is that necessarily a bad thing (genuine question). I mean, if you can prescribe a treatment sent direct to owner without any of the hassle of stock keeping, isn't that more efficient?[/quote]

Do I want the client to build a relationship with my business or with a supplier? What if I want to change the products we use in 2-3 years time, how easy will it be if the client has a strong bone to a particular brand?

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 09:19:38 GMT

Is that necessarily a bad thing (genuine question). I mean, if you can prescribe a treatment sent direct to owner without any of the hassle of stock keeping, isn't that more efficient?

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227164#227164"]how long will it be before all their other products are available by this route?[/quote]

Presumably dependent on how severe/complex the condition. OK for a flea treatment. I wonder whether it would be more problematic for a cardiac drug, for example.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Bob Russell — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 09:14:35 GMT

This seems to be early stages of a bypass of practices. Bravecto sent out directly by NVS on instructions of practices. This appears quite innocent but how long will it be before all their other products are available by this route?

Not that different to writing a prescription really!

We have already taken steps to minimise our use of MSD products where possible.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:01:48 GMT

I've submitted the following question to MSD:

Could someone please tell me how supplying your products through a more limited number of wholesalers is going to "enhance the customer experience and more quickly adapt to changes in the market to better serve customers" (www.msd-animal-health.co.uk/.../) for those practices which do not use the wholesalers you have decided to use exclusively?

Genuinely interested in the answer. Or indeed how it will enhance the experience for the existing customers of NVS, for example. Will keep you posted.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Bob Russell — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:14:06 GMT

We have moved all products we can to alternative manufacturers. I have also contacted the latest entity of the monopolies commission.

This has the potential to create a full monopoly and is yet another nail in the coffin for any form of independence within the profession.

Sadly there are products that cannot be supplied except by MSD.

I doubt MSD have any idea of the bad feeling this will cause in practice but they do not care.

We will replace Bravecto as soon as we can supply a suitable alternative.

For those wanting to stick with Nobivac they can always move to Canigen.

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Joyce Whitehead — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 13:23:22 GMT

We have a holding account with NVS but our main account is Covetrus. Apparently all the wholesalers were asked to tender and the most competitive got the gig. The chief issue for us will be setting up the online ordering and batch tracking as our vaccines are MSD. we are awaiting Robovet sorting this for us. I can’t say I’m particularly looking forward to it. Our head nurse has drawn up a MSD list and I suspect we may move the drug room round to remind everyone where to order. Although I guess we just won’t have them on the Covetrus list if we tried.

I do feel starting January 1st might not be the the best idea, lower staff numbers with holidays, busy time after bank holidays etc. And then there is Brexit...

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Thomas Johnson — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 08:33:21 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-supplying-only-via-nvs-or-mwi/227123#227123"]Can you point us to it. I haven't seen it. [/quote]

www.msd-animal-health.co.uk/.../

RE: MSD supplying only via NVS or MWI

Beats — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 19:59:04 GMT

MSD:

Bravecto - would miss badly, I love this product, but i'd say after a few months I'd be OK with alternative isoxazolines.

Caninsulin - would miss.

Dexafort - would miss, but could live without.

The rest - could live without and not miss.

Hardly worth changing wholesaler over!!!

Our wholesaler has never stocked some MSD UK product lines due to their organisational set-up here, so perhaps they are not necessarily the beginning of a trend in other drug-companies, but just continuing their own unique approach.

Equally, we do source some things not from our regular wholesaler if we want them enough to warrant the extra effort.

RE: MSD changes

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 19:14:20 GMT

[quote userid="19431" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-changes"]Good evening all. First post on the forum so please bear with me if it's in the wrong place! [/quote]

A very warm welcome. And I hope the first of many!

Slightly wrong place, but that doesn't matter. I've moved it to the misc practice management discussions. I've also made the title a tad more descriptive, so others can see exactly what it is about on the list view.

[quote userid="6297" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/29538/msd-changes/227122#227122"]Looking at their press release[/quote]

Can you point us to it. I haven't seen it.

RE: MSD changes

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 18:57:53 GMT

[quote userid="19431" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/marketing-discussions/29538/msd-changes"]I have been wrestling with the dilemma of what to do concerning MSD and their products. For those of you who may not be aware, in their wisdom MSD have decided they will only supply product through NVS or MWI, neither of whom are currently our wholesaler.[/quote]

Looking at their press release it looks as though the change is bigger than just restricting sales to 2 wholesalers. Rather than the traditional model where the wholesaler buys the products and then sells them on to the practice, MSD will invoice the practice themselves, and I assume are then paying NVS and MWI to do the logistics, i.e. manage the orders, store the products and distribute them. I'm guessing the other UK wholesalers didn't want to enter in to this kind of relationship with MSD. It sounds very frustrating.