By PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 1 Aug 2010
The UAE authorities are putting solid measures governing the practice of veterinary medicine in the UAE.
This move has been initiated as several vet clinics were found to be engaged in malpractices and were found to employ unlicensed veterinarians and non-specialists to work in their laboratories.
The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) will further enforce the regulations in this regard on the 500 veterinary practitioners and technicians currently working in the country, according to a senior ministry official.
Mohammad Hassan Shamsi, Director of Livestock Development Department at the MoEW, said, "A total of 92 registered veterinary health facilities are currently operational across the country, carrying out therapeutic and diagnostic treatments for animals, including immunisation of animals and birds against infectious diseases."
"About 200 veterinary establishments, such as pharmaceutical firms and warehouses are also functioning in the country," he added.
Shamsi pointed out that the federal law No.10/ 2002 on veterinary practice strictly controls unlicensed vet professionals to employ veterinarians in such facilities.
"The candidates aspiring to practice as veterinary doctors should have a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and surgery from an internationally-approved university. They also should obtain a licence from the MoEW after undergoing eligibility tests," he elaborated.
"Expatriate candidates should have veterinary practising experience for a period of not less than five years to work as an independent veterinarian, while the experience criterion for Emiratis is two years," he noted.
Also, according to him, the ministry should be notified about the facility a vet works at. The vets also are not permitted to work in more than one clinic at the same time.
"If any animal is suspected of being infected with contagious disease, the veterinarian should immediately report the case to the ministry or concerned local authorities in the particular emirate," he pointed out.
"Necessary preventive measures should be taken within 24 hours, and the place and address of the animal's owner must be verified," added Shamsi.
"The veterinary doctor will be subject to legal action if he is found to cause any damage to an animal arising out of an error or technical inaccuracies in diagnosis and prescription of appropriate treatment," he added.
(Image used for illustrative purpose)
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