A dog receives treatment at an animal shelter in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers northeast of Seoul, in this file photo taken May 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Animal hospitals with more than two veterinarians will be required to disclose medical fees for major types of treatment, including vaccinations and X-rays.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on Tuesday that the Veterinarians Act was revised to require that animal hospitals disclose medical costs for common types of treatment.
The main procedures subject to the disclosure of medical fees include diagnosis, consultation, hospitalization, comprehensive vaccines for dogs and cats, rabies vaccines, and X-ray imaging and analysis.
Veterinary clinics will be required to display guidebooks or printouts at a place that can be easily reached by pet owners, including reception booths or examination rooms, or provide such information through their websites.
Facilities that do not comply with these guidelines will face a correction order. If such an order is not followed, hospitals will be levied a penalty of 300,000 won (US$234).
For second and third violations, the fines increase to 600,000 won and 900,000 won, respectively.
However, hospitals that specialize in visiting treatment for livestock such as cows, horses and pigs raised on livestock farms are exempted from this mandate.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
