VetChat founder and veterinarian Dr Claire Jenkins is calling for urgent reform to allow tele-prescribing during the fuel crisis.
She says regional and rural pet owners are being hit hardest, with some facing hours-long trips just to access basic veterinary care, while others may forgo treatment altogether due to high petrol costs on top of already expensive clinic fees.
Existing regulations place strict limits on what vets can prescribe via telehealth, with only very narrow exceptions in emergencies.
Byron Bay local Dr Claire is advocating for temporary emergency measures to enable responsible tele-prescribing, allowing vets to issue scripts remotely that can be filled at local pharmacies. This would help reduce travel costs and ensure animals still receive timely care.
Long term change needed
Dr Claire also believes that long-term legislative change around e-scripts and tele-prescribing is needed.
‘Rising fuel costs have become a real barrier to veterinary care access – especially in regional areas, where even routine visits, let alone after-hours care, often mean expensive travel and delayed treatment,’ she said.
‘No pet should be left in pain because their owner can’t afford the fuel to reach a clinic. Enabling responsible tele-prescribing is critical to keeping care accessible during this crisis.’
According to VetChat’s Telehealth in Australia 2025 report, 1 in 6 Australians skipped a vet visit in the past year due to cost concerns or lack of after-hours care.
While only 20 per cent of Australians are aware that veterinary telehealth exists, it appears that 80 per cent of pet owners say they would use telehealth services if they knew they were available.
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