Veterinary Education and the importance of the Veterinary Statutory Bodies

1. Veterinary Education and the importance of the Veterinary Statutory Bodies Dr Bernard Vallat Director General of the OIE

2. Introduction(1) This Conference addresses the need for better global harmonisation of veterinary education worldwide, based on OIE guidelines. It also focuses on strengthening the role of Veterinary Statutory Bodies (VSB) in regulating the activities of veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals and ensuring these activities are ethical and of high quality. 2

3. Introduction(2) The activities of Veterinary Services (VS), both public and private components, are recognised as a global public good. Quality veterinary education together with effective VSBs are cornerstones of good veterinary governance 3

4. Introduction(3) • There is an urgent need, particularly in the developing world, to strengthen VS and VSB competence in line with the international standards of the OIE, especially those dealing with quality of VS and good governance. • This Conference is a key part of the OIE strategy to support Member countries who are taking steps to strengthen veterinary governance. 4

5. The global context(1) • Many countries do not have acceptable quality veterinary education, and this problem is worsened by inadequate regulation of the veterinary profession by the VSB. • A recent OIE survey in Africa shows that only 36 of 52 countries have established formal VSBs and in many cases the compliance of the VSB with the OIE standards is not optimal. 5

6. The global context(2) • Society has high expectations of the veterinary profession, particularly with respect to veterinary public health, animal welfare and food safety. • To help VS meet these expectations, Member Countries mandated the OIE to take a global leadership role in making recommendations on veterinary education and governance, including requirements for effective VSBs. 6

7. The global context(3) Global demand for food security • +1 billion people by 2050 • Demand for animal protein is expected to increase by more than 50% before 2020 • Intensification is unavoidable • Focus on developing / transition countries • Low impact to global consumption of the decrease of animal protein consumption in developed countries

8. Trends on world production Million tonnes Million tonnes Meat Milk Million tonnes Eggs Source: FAOSTAT

9. The global context(4) Pathogenscan spread via people, animals and goods – they do not respect international frontiers Zoonotic pathogens are increasingly implicated in serious human illness and new and re-emerging diseases - and have potential for use in bioterrorism. The Five T´s : trade, travel, transport tourism and terrorism. 9

10. The importance of the zoonotic potentialof animal pathogens • 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic; • 75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic; • 80% of agents with potential bioterrorist use are zoonotic pathogens; • Veterinarians are on the front line to protect human health.

11. The Veterinary Servicesin the front line Protecting animal health Reducing poverty Food security Protecting public health Market access Animal production food safety Animal welfare • a global public good 11

12. The OIE vision – keyconcepts • To improve animal health and welfare globally, in order to help guarantee veterinary public health, food safety and food security. • Concept of Public Good • Concept of “One Health” • Good veterinary governance • Animal health strategies and • programmes at the global,regionaland national level • Global control programmes: FMD, PPR, rabies in dogs 12

13. The OIE vision – global standards • To improve animal health and welfare globally, in order to help guarantee veterinary public health, food safety and food security. • Reference organisation for the WTO with respect to science-based standards for, surveillance, disease control, the VS and international trade • Animal production food safety (in collaboration with the Codex Alimentarius Commission) • Prevention of biological disasters • Animal welfare 13

14. The OIE vision – excellence in the practice of veterinary medicine • Veterinarians have an essential role in society; • Good governance is essential for national Veterinary Services (public and private sector) and Aquatic Animal Health Services; • OIE recommendations on the quality of veterinary education (initial and continuing); • Capacity building and support for OIE Members; • Public – private partnerships; • Quality of the Veterinary Statutory Body. 14

15. 15 The OIE PVS Pathway • Initiatives for good governance and veterinary education are under the umbrella of the OIE PVS Pathway, established in 2006 to support Member Countries wishing to strengthen their national VS and to comply with OIE quality standards. • At the request of Members, the OIE carries out missions to evaluate the performance of VS, including veterinary education and VSB performance. • As at December 2013, more than 250 PVS Pathway missions had been carried out in 117 countries, most of which are developing countries.

16. Capacity building for VS « Treatment » Capacity Building, Specific Activities, Projects and Programs  Veterinary Legislation « Diagnosis » « Prescription » Public / Private Partnerships PVS Evaluation PVS Gap Analysis PVS Pathway Follow-Up Missions Veterinary Education including Veterinary Services’ Strategic Priorities Laboratories The OIE collaborates with governments, donors and other stakeholders http://www.oie.int/en/support-to-oie-members/pvs-pathway/

17. OIE PVS Pathway – State of play 5 November 2013

18. The 1st global Conference(Paris 2009) identified the need to define minimum competencies that newly graduated veterinarians should have in order that Veterinary Services (public and private components) can meet their mandate in accordance with the OIE standards published in the Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes • This does not exclude local circumstances Globalconferences The OIE created an expert ad hoc Group on Veterinary Education, which produced recommendations on veterinary ´Day 1´ competencies: http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Support_to_OIE_Members/Vet_Edu_AHG/DAY_1/DAYONE-B-ang-vC.pdf 18

19. The 2nd global Conference (Lyon 2011) highlighted the importance of a minimum veterinary curriculum which would enable the attainment of the competencies; underlined the important role of the VSB, and encouraged the OIE to develop the concept of twinning for Veterinary Education Establishments. Global conferences Guidelines on the Core Veterinary Curriculum are on the OIE website: http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Support_to_OIE_Members/Vet_Edu_AHG/formation_initiale/Core-ENG-v6.pdf

20. The OIE developed a programme for Veterinary Education Establishments (VEE) to enter into a Twinning arrangement with a parent institution. • The OIE helps Member countries to promote the funding of twinning projects by working with governments, donors and international organisations • The OIE continually promotes collaboration between VS, Veterinary Education establishment (VEE) and VSB The Twinning concept

21. OIE achievements and veterinary statutory bodies 21

22. The Bamako Declaration • The OIE Regional Representation for Africa held a conference on ‘The role of Veterinary Statutory Bodies’ in Mali in April 2011. • The conference recommended that the OIE augment its standards on VSBs and related critical competencies in the OIE PVS Tool, and called for the establishment of a twinning mechanism to provide for transfer of expertise and experience between VSBs in OIE Member Countries. • The Bamako Declaration: http://www.rr-frica.oie.int/docspdf/en/2011/VSB/Bamako_Declaration.pdf

23. Standards on VSB in the Code(1) • In Chapter 3.2 (Evaluation of Veterinary Services), Article 3.2.12 sets out standards for VSBs, including: • objectives and functions; • legislative basis, autonomy and functional capacity; • the composition of the VSB and organisations represented in it; • accountability and transparency of decision-making; • sources and management of funding; • administration of training and development programmes. Effective mechanisms for coordination between the Veterinary Authority and the VSB should also be established in compliance with OIE standards

24. Standards on VSB in the Code (2) • The policy and objectives of VSBs, including their power and functions, should be defined bylaw, notably with regard to: • licensing / registration of veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals to perform veterinary activities; • minimum standards of education (initial and continuing); • standards of professional conduct and competence; • procedures for investigating complaints and applying disciplinary procedures. • VSBs should be independent of undue political and commercial interests, and • Where applicable, regional agreements for the recognition of veterinary qualifications should be implemented.

25. VSBs – the state of play • Many Member countries do not have a VSB that complies with the standards in the Terrestrial Code, • A recent OIE review in Africa shows that only 36/ 52 OIE Member countries have a VSB and the VSB does not, in most cases, comply with the OIE recommendations. • A similar situation applies in some other regions, notably in eastern Europe and parts of Asia and Latin America. • There is scope for establishing Twinning agreements between VSBs – for more information see the OIE guidelines: http://www.oie.int/VSB_Twinning_Guide.pdf

26. Expectations for the conference (1) Since the OIE was established, veterinary medicine has evolved: • Veterinary education and governance must evolve to satisfy the growing demands of society for protection against risks related to food safety and food security, animal diseases and zoonoses, while respecting reasonable expectations on animal welfare.

27. Expectations for the conference (2) • The conference should provide recommendations on the continuing management of this evolution, to help ensure the high quality competence and ethical behaviour of all veterinarians licensed to practice veterinary medicine worldwide. • Member countries should make a strong committment to support the OIE in the development of standards, and to implement the adopted standards, including through harmonisation of objectives of national veterinary legislation and veterinary curriculum with respect to the standards.

28. Expectations for the conference (3) The Conference will provide: • An analysis of Day 1 veterinary competencies and the basic core curriculum promoted by the OIE and how influence policy makers to consider them; • An analysis of the current situation with veterinary education and the performance of VSBs globally, including relevant issues pertaining to the national veterinary legislation; • Information on general principles and best practices on establishing a VSB; • Better international awareness of OIE standards and recommendations relevant to the quality and performance of public and private components of VS (including the legislative basis and organisational structure), veterinary education and VSB performance; • Greater awareness of veterinarians in the public and the private sector on their role and responsibilities under the legal framework of responsibilities given to the VSB;

29. Expectations for the conference (4) • Information on the experiences of OIE Members in the domain of veterinary education and VSB quality, including the challenges and priorities of developing countries; • A discussion amongst OIE Members on ways and means to improve governance using the OIE Twinning procedures for VEEs and VSBs and other elements of the OIE PVS framework (initial PVS evaluation, PVS gap analysis, PVS follow-up and veterinary legislation missions); • Identification of other tools and support that can be provided to national VS in developing countries, as appropriate to their needs; • An active discussion on future needs and priorities to strengthen veterinary education and VSB performances, within the framework of the PVS Pathway, including recommendations to the OIE on future activities and initiatives.

30. Conclusions (1) • The quality of initial and continuing veterinary education and effective regulation by VSBs, are pillars of good governance for the national Veterinary Services. • The OIE has the global mandate to support the improvement of veterinary education to guarantee effective public and private sector components of national Veterinary Services. • The OIE objective, in this context, is to help ensure that veterinarians (both public and private sector) have the competence to apply the OIE standards for animal health and welfare.

31. Conclusions (2) • The OIE objective is also to help guarantee the excellence of the veterinary profession globally, so that societal expectations are fulfilled and the profession enjoys high standing and respect from the public and from governments. • In light of the ´Global Good´ nature of Veterinary Services and national animal health programmes, governments and donors should prioritise needed investments in laws, infrastructure and education to achieve a sustainable strengthening of the public and private sector components of national Veterinary Services. • The OIE advocates these actions on behalf of VS.

32. Conclusions (3) • The quality of Veterinary Education Establishments (VEE) needs to be improved throughout the world. • A global federation of existing regional associations of VEE and accrediting bodies could help to facilitate the application of the OIE guidelines on veterinary education.

33. Conclusions (4) • This event is historical and for that we commend our collegues from Brazil. I encourage you all to participate actively and contribute your views during the next two and a half days here in Foz do Iguazu. • The recommendations of the Conference will guide the OIE as it develops new initiatives and programmes to support countries wishing to strengthen their compliance with the OIE standards and wishing a more efficient and respected veterinary profession. • Your ongoing support for the OIE and active involvement with our activities are vital to achieve these important goals.

34. Thank you for your attention Organisation mondialede la santé animale World Organisation for Animal Health Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal 34