Law change affects veterinary service prices

Municipal veterinary clinic fees have changed nationwide from 1 January 2026.

From now on, customers will make two payments during their visit: a clinic fee collected by the municipality and a separate payment to the veterinarian.

You can check the new clinic fees charged by the municipality here (PDF) (in Finnish and Swedish).

In addition to the clinic fee, veterinarians will continue to charge their usual fees for procedures, medicines, and supplies, in accordance with the municipal veterinary tariff.

Time-based pricing

At the start of the year, the previous clinic and equipment fees were replaced by a charge based on the time required for the treatment. The clinic fee payable to the city is now charged according to the time required for the procedure. The clinic fee is paid at the time of the visit using a card payment machine.

Time-based pricing applies to both services the municipality is responsible for providing, and supplementary, market-based services.

The reform does not affect veterinarians’ fees. The clinic fee collected by the city helps to ensure the continued provision of municipal veterinary services.

Municipalities are responsible for essential veterinary services

Under the new law, municipalities are responsible for providing fewer veterinary services than before.

Going forward, municipalities are only responsible for veterinary services essential for animal health and welfare, and for public health.

These include, for example, general examinations; identification of cats and dogs; vaccinations; procedures for the treatment and prevention of parasites; basic oral care; diagnosis and treatment of diseases; castration; sterilisation of cats; and euthanasia.

These basic and essential services will continue to be funded through taxes, and their prices must not exceed the costs incurred by the municipality in providing them.

Municipalities may also offer services that go beyond their core responsibilities. The prices of these supplementary services must be market-based.

– One of the principles of the reformed Veterinary Care Act is that municipal, taxpayer-funded veterinary services must not disrupt the market for private providers, says Esa Hirvijärvi, Director of Environmental Services for the City of Vaasa.

The law change does not affect Vaasa’s municipal veterinary services or opening hours.

Veterinary services in our area are provided by the joint municipal organisation for environmental health care of Vaasa and Laihia.