West Bengal is set to launch 375 fair price medicine shops for pet animals and birds, to be operated by the Directorate of Animal Resources and Animal Health under the state's Animal Resources Development Department. The outlets, formally designated Pashu Aushadhi Vikray Kendras (PAVKs), will be part of the Union Government's Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme.

How the Network Is Structured

According to a department notification, the 375 PAVKs will be arranged across three administrative tiers. The anchor outlet will be a single state-level PAVK situated in Kolkata. Below that, 30 district-level PAVKs will serve major population centres, while 344 block-level PAVKs will extend the network to rural and semi-urban areas — a deliberate design choice to reach communities in remote regions that depend on livestock for their livelihoods.

What Pet Owners and Livestock Farmers Can Expect

Medicines and vaccines for pet animals — including dogs — will be available at the PAVKs at significantly lower prices compared to private pet shops and clinics. The department has indicated that generic equivalents of commonly prescribed branded medicines will be stocked, directly reducing out-of-pocket costs for pet owners and small farmers alike. Kolkata-based pet owner Jayita Srakr said the move would ease the financial burden her community routinely faces. 'Often, we have to purchase medicines and vaccines for our pets, especially rabies vaccines for our puppies, at exorbitant prices since the veterinary doctors only prescribe branded medicines at premium prices. Now this initiative by the state government will solve that problem to a great extent,' she said.

Targeting an Alleged Prescription Scam

A state government official, speaking to reporters, alleged that a long-running malpractice has distorted the veterinary medicines market in the state. According to the official, a section of veterinary doctors has reportedly been prescribing specific branded medicines and vaccines in exchange for commissions and benefits in kind from pharmaceutical company representatives — a practice that drives up costs for pet owners and livestock farmers. 'Once these fair price medicine shops are operative, such alleged scams will automatically get restricted, and pet owners will benefit as they will be relieved of purchasing branded medicines at exorbitant prices,' the official said. The allegations have not been independently verified, and no formal charges or investigations were cited in the department notification.

Significance for Rural Livelihoods

The heavy weighting toward block-level outlets — 344 out of 375 total PAVKs — reflects the state's intent to serve rural households whose income depends on cattle, poultry, and other livestock. Access to affordable veterinary medicines in interior blocks has historically been limited, forcing small farmers to travel to district headquarters or pay premium prices at private suppliers. This comes amid a broader national push under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme to improve animal health infrastructure across states.

What Happens Next

The department has issued a formal notification, signalling that the groundwork for operationalising the PAVKs is under way. No specific launch date has been announced publicly, but the notification indicates preparatory steps are in progress. Stakeholders, including pet lovers' groups and livestock farmer associations, are expected to track the rollout closely for pricing transparency and stock availability once the outlets go live.