“Why do you collect registration and licensing fees from us when there are non-veterinarians everywhere in the country impersonating veterinarians and causing tremendous losses in the community and consequently bringing a bad image to a profession they do not belong to?” asked one registered and licensed veterinarian. The other added in quick succession, “So after I have registered and got my annual practice licence then what happens with the veterinarian who chooses not to register and/or get a practice licence?” These were voices of angered, frustrated and genuinely concerned patriotic veterinary professionals who respect the obligation to register and get licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Uganda and yet are suffering the pain of “competing” with non-professionals on one hand and non-compliant professionals on the other. Both these scenarios relate to regulation of the veterinary profession.
The scenarios point to the need to strengthen regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine in Uganda, including the use of modern technology. Veterinary professionals, just like other medical professionals, take the Hippocratic oath because they deal with life. Elements of the oath include ensuring the welfare of animals entrusted to their care, continuous enhancement of professional competences, protection of public and environmental health. Needless say, the non-veterinarians do not take this oath and neither do they understand its significance. It is not uncommon therefore that they impersonate veterinary professionals without due regard to the responsibilities defined in the elements of the veterinary Hippocratic oath. The poor unsuspecting client willingly subjects their animal to mismanagement, torture and often death in the hands of the quack and moreover pays such a law breaker handsomely in addition. The animal may die soon thereafter or later through escalation of the disease or of complications associated with inappropriate medications or quantities of them administered to it.
The welfare of an animal is very central in determining whether it performs its role in meeting human needs or not. It is important therefore that the laws of the land should guard against individuals who would violate the animal’s welfare and by so doing cause losses to the owner of the animal. The Veterinary Surgeon’s Act Cap 277 empowers the Uganda Veterinary Board to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine in Uganda. Through execution of their functions, they protect the interests of the animals, the animal owner and the veterinary professional.
The veterinary profession has, as a requirement enshrined in the regulatory guidelines, the need for adherence to a code of conduct that defines the culture of professionalism and general social etiquette. Besides contributing to producing a responsible member of society, this regulation also protects and raises the image of the noble profession. A properly regulated veterinary profession leads to the improvement of quality of services and animal products in the country. Additionally, appropriate regulation promotes growth of veterinary practices and also utilisation of products from industry thus expanding space for employment and taxation. It is also obvious that the regulatory body influences the quality of training and by so doing keeps the local institutions at par with global standards thus producing professionals with sufficient competence to provide solutions to real world challenges. This in turn preserves the image, integrity and reputation of the training institution and ultimately that of the nation.
It is important at this stage to point out that regulation of the veterinary profession cannot be accomplished without deliberate input from government, veterinary professionals themselves, enforcement officers, animal owners and the public. Each has its unique role ranging from sufficient funding of the regulator by government to enable it execute its functions; vigilance of the public in reporting quacks and unethical veterinary practitioners; police for supporting the regulator in enforcing the law; the veterinary professional by meeting their legal obligations, religious adherence to ethical code of conduct and vigilance in reporting quacks. Additionally, it is the animal owners’ right to seek from anybody intending to offer or offering them animal health services not only their full identity but evidence that they are a licensed professional. Unique identification documents will be designed for this purpose. Should such a person fail to provide convincing evidence or refuse to cooperate, the owner of the animal should take note and report to the regulator for advice and further action. It is envisaged further that within the next few months, it will be possible for anybody anywhere in the country to be able to establish the true identity of a registered and licensed veterinary professional in Uganda with support of technology and the government gazette. Technology will also make it possible for the animal owner to locate the nearest registered and licenced veterinary professional. This way, the two questions at the opening of this article will be satisfactorily answered. Every Ugandan has a role in ensuring the provision of quality veterinary services. May we execute them conscientiously.
For God and my country.
This article was part of the set published in Kampala dailies of 27 April 2019 in commemoration of World Veterinary Day 2019.
