Article
Pet health is also the responsibility of pharmacists
Alliance Healthcare is committed to supporting pharmacies with everything they need to become key providers of comprehensive pet care and health, strengthening their essential role in the industry.
In Spain, there are an estimated 30 million pets, and more than 50% of households have a pet. This means that one in two people who enter a pharmacy have a pet and are potential customers for veterinary products . Furthermore, according to the recently launched barometer by aedpac and Hamilton (Barometer of the New Habits and Profiles of Pet Parents in Spain), 85.9% of those surveyed consider pets a member of the family.
Along these lines, spending on pets increases every year, and their care is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, half of the customers who enter the pharmacy potentially have a strong interest in their pets' care, and pharmacies must be able to meet these customers' needs.
Continuing with the data, according to AMVAC's 2024 sector report presented in February, the veterinary medicine market in pharmacies was worth around €40 million last year. However, this only represents 6.4% of the veterinary medicines dispensed: 77.2% corresponds to the market for veterinary medicines dispensed through veterinary clinics.
The category with the greatest growth
Royal Decree 666/2023, approved on July 18, 2023, came into force in January 2025, regulating the prescription and dispensing of veterinary products. It emphasizes that veterinarians must prescribe the medication, but never dispense it. Veterinarians will only be allowed to transfer medications (not sell them) if it is not possible to obtain them through a pharmacy. Furthermore, it also regulates the prescription of antibiotics, requiring their notification and adherence to established guidelines to avoid unnecessary use.
In short, the new legislation reaffirms that the pharmacist is the only one authorized to dispense medications, both human and veterinary. This change in the landscape is translating into increased sales in pharmacies: according to IQVIA data, 29% more veterinary medications were sold in February 2025 than in February of the previous year, demonstrating the significant potential.
While it's true that the veterinary category is still small compared to the others, it's the fastest-growing category, and starting to work on it can greatly benefit pharmacies. Furthermore, it's another form of differentiation that allows pharmacies to identify themselves, in the medium and long term, as a supporter of the overall health of families, including pets.
Next to the pharmacist
At Alliance Healthcare, they are aware of the potential this category holds, and their goal is to position themselves as an essential pillar in animal healthcare. Therefore, they offer an ecosystem with the pharmacy at its center, providing all the essential services needed to excel in animal healthcare: a catalog (they have more than 2,000 high-turnover references to help offer high-quality service), training, visibility, and support.
Furthermore, they are aware that this is a very new category for most pharmacists, and therefore, they support pharmacies as much as possible to make the implementation of this category much easier and to ensure they feel comfortable working with veterinary products.
Specifically, to be able to offer all these resources and support to pharmacists, they have the website 'Veterinary Health Space' , which is accessed through the Alliance Healthcare client website, My Alliance Pro. This space includes a much more visual catalog, free training pills, promotions, visibility materials at the point of sale, and even a beginner's guide so that those who do not yet work in the category have a way to begin.
Training
At Alliance Healthcare, they believe that good training on the category is the most important step. They understand the importance of being well-informed and provide pharmacies with specialized training for the entire team, which will help them better understand the world of animal health and effectively integrate it into the pharmacy's daily routine.
Specifically, they offer an accredited course called "Expert Pharmacy in Veterinary Medicine," which is subsidized by the Tripartite Foundation. It covers a wide range of essential topics, including a detailed introduction to veterinary pharmacy, current legislation, veterinary dermatology, ear and eye health, mobility, and the respiratory, digestive, and nutritional systems. It also includes practical clinical cases to apply the acquired knowledge in real-life situations.
Through this course, pharmacists will acquire the necessary tools to provide optimal and specialized care to animals, ensuring their well-being and health . Its objective is to provide the necessary information to promote animal welfare through the appropriate use of specialized pharmaceutical treatments. It is delivered online through a platform and can be taken throughout the year.
Along these lines, spending on pets increases every year, and their care is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, half of the customers who enter the pharmacy potentially have a strong interest in their pets' care, and pharmacies must be able to meet these customers' needs.
Continuing with the data, according to AMVAC's 2024 sector report presented in February, the veterinary medicine market in pharmacies was worth around €40 million last year. However, this only represents 6.4% of the veterinary medicines dispensed: 77.2% corresponds to the market for veterinary medicines dispensed through veterinary clinics.
The category with the greatest growth
Royal Decree 666/2023, approved on July 18, 2023, came into force in January 2025, regulating the prescription and dispensing of veterinary products. It emphasizes that veterinarians must prescribe the medication, but never dispense it. Veterinarians will only be allowed to transfer medications (not sell them) if it is not possible to obtain them through a pharmacy. Furthermore, it also regulates the prescription of antibiotics, requiring their notification and adherence to established guidelines to avoid unnecessary use.
In short, the new legislation reaffirms that the pharmacist is the only one authorized to dispense medications, both human and veterinary. This change in the landscape is translating into increased sales in pharmacies: according to IQVIA data, 29% more veterinary medications were sold in February 2025 than in February of the previous year, demonstrating the significant potential.
While it's true that the veterinary category is still small compared to the others, it's the fastest-growing category, and starting to work on it can greatly benefit pharmacies. Furthermore, it's another form of differentiation that allows pharmacies to identify themselves, in the medium and long term, as a supporter of the overall health of families, including pets.
Next to the pharmacist
At Alliance Healthcare, they are aware of the potential this category holds, and their goal is to position themselves as an essential pillar in animal healthcare. Therefore, they offer an ecosystem with the pharmacy at its center, providing all the essential services needed to excel in animal healthcare: a catalog (they have more than 2,000 high-turnover references to help offer high-quality service), training, visibility, and support.
Furthermore, they are aware that this is a very new category for most pharmacists, and therefore, they support pharmacies as much as possible to make the implementation of this category much easier and to ensure they feel comfortable working with veterinary products.
Specifically, to be able to offer all these resources and support to pharmacists, they have the website 'Veterinary Health Space' , which is accessed through the Alliance Healthcare client website, My Alliance Pro. This space includes a much more visual catalog, free training pills, promotions, visibility materials at the point of sale, and even a beginner's guide so that those who do not yet work in the category have a way to begin.
Training
At Alliance Healthcare, they believe that good training on the category is the most important step. They understand the importance of being well-informed and provide pharmacies with specialized training for the entire team, which will help them better understand the world of animal health and effectively integrate it into the pharmacy's daily routine.
Specifically, they offer an accredited course called "Expert Pharmacy in Veterinary Medicine," which is subsidized by the Tripartite Foundation. It covers a wide range of essential topics, including a detailed introduction to veterinary pharmacy, current legislation, veterinary dermatology, ear and eye health, mobility, and the respiratory, digestive, and nutritional systems. It also includes practical clinical cases to apply the acquired knowledge in real-life situations.
Through this course, pharmacists will acquire the necessary tools to provide optimal and specialized care to animals, ensuring their well-being and health . Its objective is to provide the necessary information to promote animal welfare through the appropriate use of specialized pharmaceutical treatments. It is delivered online through a platform and can be taken throughout the year.
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