Clinica Veterinaria: When Monopoly Takes Demand…

Yes, we acknowledge it: we are not an NGO or a charity. We are in it for the money. Why? Simply because it is our way of making a living, and because we and our families have the bizarre habit of eating three meals a day – not to mention taxes, bills, and overhead. But we believe there is a massive difference between being in it for the money and being in it only or mostly for the money.

In this era of “turbo-capitalism,” money often feels like everything. This is the perfect substrate for investment funds whose philosophy is: “I put money into your business, and you produce profit for me, no matter what it takes.” The effects in sensitive areas like healthcare are visible; patients stop being considered human beings and are treated as “clients.” You only need to look at the American healthcare system or recent scandals in Madrid to see the results.

Unfortunately, these investment funds have now sunk their fangs into animal health, realizing it is an expanding business. But when economic profit is the only metric, concepts such as care, compassion, and confidence become dispensable.

If I am an investment fund aiming for maximum profit, common sense dictates I must maximize income and minimize expense. The “investment fund way” achieves this by sky-rocketing prices and reducing the “human factor.”

Imagine an investment fund makes a vet an offer they can’t refuse. The vet stays at the practice and feels richer, but they are no longer the boss. Decisions are now made by shareholders – people who aren’t veterinary surgeons, yet claim to know what’s best for the business.

The new orders follow a predictable script:

Inflate Prices: Prices are deemed “ridiculously low” and must be increased sky-high.
Mandatory Batteries: Every animal must undergo a rigid battery of tests – many of which are redundant or unnecessary.
The Premium Option: Vets are pressured to recommend the most expensive treatment, regardless of the owner’s budget.
Staff Cuts: Experienced staff are replaced by inexpensive rookies to ensure no one becomes essential.

The vet is then told: “You are obliged to produce the annual benefit our shareholders decide, and God help you if you fail!”

This is the awful truth. However, these Wall Street-minded thinkers have missed a crucial detail: this business isn’t like manufacturing cars. There is a deeply special, affective connection between a pet and its owner.

Based on our nearly 30 years of experience, we know the average owner prefers consistency. They want the same professional from the beginning to the end of their pet’s life – someone who knows the animal and knows when it is time to let go, rather than inflating a bill with senseless procedures to delay the unavoidable. We believe in technology, but only when used rationally, not just to crush the owner’s pocket.

These funds also fail to realize that what works elsewhere may not work as well in Spain. While some point to medical insurance as a solution, we see it as a double-edged sword. Like a mortgage, it can make the “upper limit” of what a person can afford disappear, allowing prices to be inflated indefinitely – at least until the insurance company refuses to pay.

Despite campaigns urging us to forget our “old-fashioned” ways, we know what we want. If I have to be the last vet who maintains 100% control over every decision – deciding based on what the client needs rather than what “Mr. Monopoly” demands – then I certainly will. When it comes time to retire, we will find a colleague who shares this philosophy. Investment funds are not welcome.