Veterinary education

The veterinary profession, which celebrates its 250^th anniversary in 2011, has a key role in society now and in the future. Fulfilling this role requires that veterinarians are highly competent and that they respect ethical rules and practices. The principles for professional conduct are the subject of international standards published in the OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes, with consensual adoption by all OIE Members.

Society expects that veterinarians demonstrate professional ethics and competence – and this depends on high quality initial and continuing veterinary education to give each veterinarian at least a minimum knowledge on key topics relevant to societal demands (e.g. on animal health, food safety and animal welfare).

Unfortunately, the quality of veterinary education is not acceptable in many countries today. Veterinary education needs to be strengthened globally, notably with respect to:

• the establishment of minimum requirements (a ‘core curriculum’), as it relates to the delivery of national veterinary services;
• the harmonisation of key curriculum elements, to facilitate international mobility of veterinarians;
• the establishment of quality control and recognition procedures for veterinary education establishments; and
• the regulation of the veterinary profession by the Veterinary Statutory Body (VSB) at national level.

With the support of its Members, the OIE has become the leading global organisation addressing these and related issues.

High quality Veterinary Services, comprising both public and private sectors, that can implement the OIE standards are recognised as ‘global public goods’ and there is an urgent need, particularly in the developing world, to strengthen their competence. High quality veterinary education and effective veterinary statutory bodies are the cornerstones of good governance of Veterinary Services; quality and international harmonisation contribute to improving animal health and welfare globally.

Relevant provisions on quality of veterinary services may be found in Terrestrial Code Chapter 3.1. and, with particular reference to the obligations of veterinarians when providing animal health certification, in Chapter 5.2.

Contact: trade.dept@oie.int