'Ordinance to Support Alleviating Pet Medical Expense Burden' Passed by Provincial Council

Increasing Transparency in Pet Medical Fees and Reducing the Burden on Low-Income Groups

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Kyung-soo (center in the photo) is encouraging residents who have pets. (Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Gyeongnam Province announced on the 15th that with the final passage of the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Ordinance on Support for Reducing the Burden of Companion Animal Medical Expenses' by the provincial council, the basis for expanding the 'Companion Animal Medical Expense Voluntary Disclosure System' to 220 animal hospitals in the province has been established.

Once the ordinance is promulgated and enforced on the 31st, the 'Companion Animal Medical Expense Voluntary Disclosure System' will be fully implemented.

This ordinance was enacted to increase transparency in companion animal medical expenses and to alleviate the burden on low-income households raising companion animals. It includes administrative and financial support provisions related to the welfare improvement of companion animal owners and the disclosure of companion animal medical expenses.

The ordinance stipulates the medical items related to the voluntary disclosure system, the determination of medical expenses, and the method of displaying medical expenses for each medical item.

However, the current medical items included in the voluntary disclosure system cover 20 basic items such as initial consultation, follow-up consultation, and vaccinations. The province plans to continuously work on expanding the scope to include high-cost items such as surgeries to reduce the burden of medical expenses.

Um Sang-kwon, president of the Gyeongnam Veterinary Association, stated, "With the disclosure of animal medical expenses, owners now have the opportunity to compare costs before choosing an animal hospital," and added, "We will actively provide consultations on additional medical items and costs, such as surgeries and treatments, which involve significant expenses beyond the disclosed items."

Earlier, the province announced policy support projects to reduce the burden of companion animal medical expenses, including the implementation of the voluntary disclosure system, at a policy meeting in September. Since October, the 'Companion Animal Medical Expense Voluntary Disclosure System' has been piloted at 70 animal hospitals in the Changwon area.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.