Vetnews | Mei 2026 2 « BACK TO CONTENTS The past month has once again reminded us of the breadth and intensity of the work facing the veterinary profession in South Africa. From disease control and regulatory engagement to international representation, SAVA has remained actively involved in matters that affect our members, our profession, animal health and welfare, public health and the sustainability of veterinary services. This has been an extremely busy time for the VetHouse team and the Board. I would like to thank the Board of RuVASA and the leadership of the Wildlife Group for the extra hours they have put into engaging on key Foot and Mouth Disease regulatory matters. Their efforts have helped to ensure that the profession remains appropriately engaged and that veterinary expertise is meaningfully considered in key discussions. More importantly, they have helped to ensure that we continue to play an objective role in aligning the scientific and technical aspects of disease control with value-chain realities, to improve implementation and compliance. A major focus during this period has been our response to the Foot and Mouth Disease preemptive vaccination scheme document. The approach taken by SAVA was that vaccination must be implemented within a legally sound, scientifically defensible and practically workable framework. SAVA has therefore engaged constructively but firmly with the National Department of Agriculture to ensure that any proposed scheme respects the role of veterinarians, aligns with the relevant regulatory framework, and strengthens rather than fragments the national disease control response. On the international front, SAVA participated in the International Veterinary Officers Coalition and the World Veterinary Association Congress. These platforms provided valuable opportunities to engage with veterinary leaders from across the world, share South Africa’s perspectives, and learn from the experiences of other countries facing similar pressures. Many of the issues discussed internationally, such as workforce sustainability, transboundary animal diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, One Health, access to veterinary services and the role of veterinarians in building resilient food systems, are directly relevant to our local context. During the IVOC meeting, held from 18 to 19 April 2026, it was clear that many of the challenges presented by member countries remain similar. Shortages and the uneven distribution of veterinarians remain key challenges across many countries. Some member countries are piloting changes in veterinary training that place greater emphasis on practical exposure alongside theoretical learning, with practices being incentivised to accommodate veterinary students. This also includes opportunities for foreigntrained veterinarians to gain experience before sitting for board or licensing examinations in the respective countries. However, concerns were raised that an overreliance on this model may create challenges, particularly where harmonisation of training standards and regulatory requirements is still needed. The mental health and wellness of veterinarians remain high on the priority list of concerns. Various countries presented wellness programmes that include counselling, mentorship and shared activities. In countries where a “federal” system is used to regulate veterinary education and practice, alignment and harmonisation remain ongoing challenges. In the United States, this is further complicated by the number of institutions offering veterinary education across different states. The regulation of para-veterinary professionals and lay persons performing veterinary-related work also remains a challenge, particularly in larger and more sparsely populated countries. In this regard, South Africa’s efforts and achievements in regulating para-veterinary professions are commendable and were provided as an important point of reflection in these discussions. The member countries conducted a further benchmarking exercise on various aspects of the profession, ranging from the structure of veterinary associations and the veterinary workforce to practice ownership. Other areas of concern included the regulation and availability of pharmaceuticals for veterinary use. Member countries are addressing these issues in different ways, ranging from legislative changes, political lobbying and engagement with industry. Discussions on member value propositions and fee structures leaned towards increasing expectations for individual member value, such as the provision of professional liability insurance and assistance in various practicerelated areas. On fees, high corporate ownership has led to the development of models that incentivise large corporates to pay for veterinarians in their employ at preferential rates. Trends in the use of artificial intelligence in veterinary practice were also discussed, including an insightful presentation on the pros and cons of its use in diagnostics. Overall, the interactions were informative and valuable. The World Veterinary Association Congress was well attended, and there were no major issues arising from the AGM. The papers provided were of high quality, and a number of interesting AI solutions in the intensive pig and poultry industries are worth exploring. This past month has also been an exciting period as the Board, together with SAVETCON, has resumed planning for the SAVA Congress next year. We are looking forward to a well-attended congress and encourage members, groups and branches to participate fully in the programme and to save the date: 13 to 15 April 2027, somewhere in Gauteng! As part of formalising SAVA’s engagement with various bodies, the SAVA Board held a meeting with the Alternative Veterinary Forum, represented by Drs Jan Basch and Ockert Botha. Various members from both parties could not attend the meeting due to technical difficulties and other issues. From the President Dear members, A Month of Engagement, Advocacy and Global Veterinary Collaboration
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