AniCura: the name of this network of veterinary clinics hides an agrifood giant, Mars. Not content to reign, with Nestlé, on the highly profitable animal feed market, the multinational is now attacking that of veterinary care, by buying up clinics. At the cost of profitability requirements that are untenable for some practitioners. Testimony in this extract from “Special Envoy”.
Few veterinarians agree to discuss this subject, because it is sensitive: the pressure of turnover and financial objectives which reigns in certain clinics, especially since their acquisition by a giant of animal feed. This pressure, Dr. Vincent Pirson would have suffered for two years. He ended up slamming the door of the establishment that paid him to set up his own clinic.
Before the takeover by AniCura, a network of veterinary clinics owned by the Mars food group, he performed an average of four operations a day. The new management would have imposed on him, as well as on his colleagues, to double this figure.
“Unachievable goals”, saccording to him, and a rhythm that would have involved “perhaps undesirable risks for animals”. “I am drowned by the activity, you are aware, you ask for more”, he complained by email to his superiors. Without opposing him with a frank refusal, her response made him “a slacker”, he regrets. According to the new management, “operating up to eight major surgeries a day” would be the norm in other clinics.
“The big problem with the arrival of these groups is, in my opinion, the injection of huge sums of money into the French veterinary circuit. We could hope that it is to increase the quality of animal care… everyday, (…) that’s not necessarily how I felt.”
Vincent Pirson, veterinary surgeonin “Special Envoy”
In these new working conditions, which he has refused, the veterinarian sees “which could be the beginnings of this valorization, of this ‘animal-object’ which is ultimately only a product to be made profitable”.
The establishment in question, for its part, says “take advantage of AniCura’s expertise (…) while maintaining its independence in its veterinary medical practice, a sine qua non condition for the reasoned prescription of care for patients, and for the development of veterinarians and ASV (specialized auxiliaries veterinarians) who work there”.
Contacted, the press service of the AniCura group highlights “veterinarians fully committed to the development of cutting-edge, local animal medicine”. The group did not wish to answer the questions of “Special Envoy”, because a legal procedure is in progress, following the radiation of some of its clinics by the Council of the Order of Veterinarians…
Excerpt from “Too expensive vets?”, a report to see in “The Special Envoy” on June 8, 2023.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.