The role of the veterinary profession in contributing to national animal health policies

1
The role of the veterinary profession in
contributing to national animal health policies

• The Animal Health Policy Conference
• Beijing, China
• February 20-21, 2008
• Dr. Gordon Dittberner
• Agriteam Canada

2
Presentation Outline

• Introduction veterinary profession in Canada
• How the of the Canadian Veterinary Medical
  Association (CVMA) was formed
• How the CVMA functions
• How the CVMA contributes to animal health
  programs and policies
• Conclusion

3
Veterinary science and veterinary medicine

• Both involve the study of animal health.
• Graduates are called veterinarians or veterinary
  surgeons.
• Most countries legally recognize veterinarians as
  professionals.
• Most of these countries have national veterinary
  associations.

4
Profile of veterinarians in Canada in 2008

• Nearly 11,000 veterinarians in Canada today -
  most are involved in private practice.
• 10 work in government positions.
• About 650 veterinarians work for the Canadian
  Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
• Over 300 students graduate each year from the 4
  universities in Canada that have veterinary
  faculties.

5
Early development of professions in Canada

• In 1797 the first professional group in Canada,
  the Law Society of Upper Canada, was established.
• In 1867 the Canadian Medical Association was
  founded.
• The purpose of these professional associations
  was to regulate their members, to protect the
  public, and to improve the standards of the
  profession.

6
Brief history of the veterinary profession in
Canada

• In 1861 a Scottish veterinarian established the
  Ontario Veterinary College in Toronto was the
  first veterinary college in North America
• Another Scottish veterinarian started the
  Montreal Veterinary College in 1866.

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Brief history of the veterinary profession in
Canada (contd)

• Initial efforts were made in 1876 to establish a
  Canadian national veterinary association but
  several provinces objected as they wished to
  retain their rights and set their own standards
  of veterinary education

8
Brief history of the veterinary profession in
Canada (contd)

• From 1874 to 1920 various Canadian provinces
  established provincial veterinary medical
  associations to license and regulate private
  veterinary practitioners.
• The provincial veterinary associations operated
  independently which sometimes led to
  contradictory opinions.

9
Brief history of the veterinary profession in
Canada (contd)

• In 1943 the Veterinary Director-General for
  Canada suggested to the provincial veterinary
  associations that they should create a national
  body that would act as the spokesperson for the
  veterinary profession.

10
Brief history of the veterinary profession in
Canada (contd)

• In June 1948 federal legislation was passed to
  create the Canadian Veterinary Medical
  Association (CVMA).
• By legislation, unless deemed qualified by the
  CVMA, persons cannot claim to be veterinarians
  and cannot conduct veterinary activities in
  Canada.

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Functions of the CVMA

• The CVMA is the body that speaks on behalf all
  veterinarians in Canada.
• The federal government consults the CVMA for an
  independent perspective and for advice on animal
  health policies and proposed animal health
  legislation.

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Functions of the CVMA (contd)

• Sets qualification standards for Canadian and
  foreign veterinary graduates
• Accredits universities providing veterinary
  degree programs
• Lobbies the government for federal funding for
  university capital projects to provide veterinary
  training and research facilities
• Promotes education standards by participating in
  advisory committees at veterinary universities

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Functions of the CVMA (contd)

• Promotes ongoing improvement and updating of
  veterinarians through monthly and quarterly
  scientific publications
• in 1960 the CVMA began publishing the
  Canadian Veterinary Journal (now monthly)
• the CVMA also publishes the Canadian
  Journal of Veterinary Research (quarterly)

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Functions of the CVMA (contd)

• The CVMA is consulted by many government
  departments on issues related to animal health,
  public health, animal welfare, animals in
  research, and veterinary and animal health
  education.
• The CVMA is also consulted by Parliamentary and
  Senate Committees for input on proposed
  legislation that impacts the veterinary
  profession.

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Functions of the CVMA (contd)

• The CVMA represents the veterinary profession on
  numerous livestock and industry animal health
  policy committees.
• The CVMA represents the Canadian veterinary
  profession at international events (such as OIE
  and World Veterinary Association meetings).
• In July 2008 the CVMA will host the 29th World
  Veterinary Congress in Vancouver, Canada.

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VANCOUVER, CANADA
17
2OO8 World Veterinary Congress, Vancouver, Canada

• Theme of congress isOne World - One Medicine -
  One Health
• Anticipate attendance of
• 2500 veterinarians
• 750 animal health technicians,
  veterinary hospital managers, and students

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Keynote Speakers

• Dr. Bernard Vallat, OIE (World Organization for
  Animal Health)
• Dr. Brian Evans, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Dr. Lonnie King, American Center for Disease
  Control
• Dr. Hugh Lewis, Banfield, The Pet Hospital

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Congress Supporters

• World Veterinary Association
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
• OIE World Organization for Animal Health

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Achievements of the CVMA

• In 1956 the CVMA established the National
  Examining Board (NEB) to determine the
  educational credentials of foreign veterinary
  graduates. This has now developed into a
  sophisticated qualification standard called the
  North American Veterinary Licensing Examination
  (NAVLE).
• All government veterinarians must have the CVMA
  certificate of qualification to hold designated
  veterinary positions.

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Achievements of the CVMA (contd)

• The CVMA in conjunction with the AVMA accredits
  all the North American veterinary universities to
  the highest international standards.
• Some veterinary universities in Australia, New
  Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and
  a few other EU countries are also accredited by
  the CVMA-AVMA team.

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Achievements of the CVMA (contd)

• In 2006 the CVMA received funding from the
  Canadian Food Inspection Agency to set up and
  manage the Canadian Veterinary Reserve (CVR).
• The purpose of the CVR is to assist provincial
  and federal governments responding to large-scale
  animal health emergencies.
• The roster of reservists doubles the number of
  CFIA field veterinarians available to respond to
  any emergency.

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Conclusion

• As the CVMA gained international stature, its
  influence on national animal health policies
  increased.
• Today the CVMA is an integral part of all animal
  health policy development in Canada.
• Canada is not unique in this regard as the same
  can be said about all the other countries that
  have strong national professional veterinary
  associations.

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Conclusion (contd)

• These national associations have directly driven
  improvements to the standards and practice of
  animal health and have been important
  contributors to the animal health policies
  throughout the world.
• It is significant that the highest standards of
  animal health in the world are in all those
  countries where there are strong professional
  national veterinary associations.
• Thank you!