Gyeonggi-do Promotes and Guides Animal Hospitals on 'Mandatory Advance Notice of Major Medical Fees'

Mandatory 'Advance Notice and Posting of Major Medical Fees' Starts from the 5th
Animal Hospitals with Two or More Veterinarians to Post Key Fees Such as Consultation, Hospitalization, and Tests
Animal Hospitals with One Veterinarian to Be Required to Post Medical Fees from January 2024

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Northern Office

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] From the 5th, all animal hospitals nationwide must explain the expected medical costs to customers before performing major treatments such as surgeries.

Gyeonggi Province has decided to promote and conduct inspections to ensure the rights of animal hospital users to know and choose their treatments are guaranteed.

The province stated, "According to the revision of Article 19 (Notification of Medical Costs for Surgeries, etc.) and Article 20 (Posting of Medical Costs for Examinations, etc.) of the 'Veterinarian Act,' advance notice and posting of animal medical costs will be mandatory from January 5."

The advance notice applies to surgeries involving general anesthesia on internal organs, bones, joints, and blood transfusions. However, in urgent situations, medical costs can be notified or changed after treatment.

Additionally, to prevent disputes caused by excessive treatment or medical fee claims at animal hospitals, animal hospitals with two or more veterinarians must post various medical costs within the hospital.

The posting method includes placing booklets or printed materials at easily visible locations such as the reception desk or examination rooms inside the animal hospital, attaching posters, or posting on the animal hospital’s official website.

Violations will result in correction orders, and failure to comply will incur fines (first offense 300,000 KRW, second offense 600,000 KRW, third offense 900,000 KRW).

Animal hospitals with only one veterinarian will be required to post medical costs starting January 2024.

The province has pre-notified 349 animal hospitals with two or more veterinarians of these revised regulations through city and county offices.

Following the legal revision, the province plans to conduct focused inspections with city and county offices on advance notification and posting of major medical costs at animal hospitals.

They will also check the input of veterinarian prescription management systems, proper issuance of prescriptions, record-keeping and preservation of medical records, and false advertising, imposing fines if violations are found.

Kim Jong-hoon, Director of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division, said, “We will promote and conduct inspections at animal hospitals to ensure the early establishment of the revised Veterinarian Act," adding, "We will do our best to guarantee the rights of animal hospital users to know and choose their treatments.”

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