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FVE and

the Veterinary Profession in Europe

Walter Winding FVE President

EAEVE GA Hannover, 29 May 2009

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FVE is a Federation of 44veterinary organisations in 38 European countries

Through its members, FVE represents approximately

200 000 veterinarians

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founded in 1975 FVE aims to unite

the European veterinary profession for the benefit of animal health, animal

welfare and public health.

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FVE wishes to be a platform for all members of the

veterinary profession in Europe and to formulate their opinions in one corporate voice

One Profession One Vision One Voice

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4 Sections: reflect the diversity of the veterinary profession: 1. UEVP Veterinary Practitioners

2. UEVH Hygienists and Public Health Vets

3. EASVO State Veterinary Officers

4. EVERI Veterinarians in industry, research and education

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FVE strongly believes in the need for good cooperation between veterinarians in different positions

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FVE’s Mission:

The FVE unites the European veterinary profession for the benefit of Animal Health, Animal Welfare and Public Health.

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• Development and promotion of veterinary medicine •  Representing the veterinary profession at an international level •  Supporting veterinarians in delivering their responsibilities towards society

FVE’s objectives are:

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A N I M A l L

H E A l T H

P U B L I C

H E A L T H

A N I M A L

W E L F A R E

Veterinary medicine

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FVE has good contacts with organisations as:

•  EU Institutions •  CVOs •  OIE •  WVA •  WHO •  FAO •  EAEVE •  EBVS •  and other professional organisations

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Main areas of activity are:

•  Animal health •  Animal welfare •  Veterinary public health •  Medicines •  Exercise of the veterinary profession •  Veterinary education

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Position of the veterinary profession

•  Well equipped professional (sufficient knowledge and expertise, technically and ethically)

•  In the heart of animal health and welfare and veterinary public health

•  Open eye towards societal needs, without loosing sight on own responsibilities

Animals

Owners / Keepers

Society v

Science Knowledge / Skills Ethics / Attitude

Objective Independent Impartial

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Big changes occur by Globalisation

and Climate change:

•  Expansion of international travel •  Increasing human – wildlife contact •  Long distance transport of animals •  Environmental changes ……..

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•  Anthrax •  Avian Influenza •  Antimicrobial Resistance •  BSE •  Brucellosis •  Echinococcosis/Hydatidosis •  Campylobacteriosis •  E. Coli •  Salmonellosis •  Leishmaniasis •  Leptospirosis

•  Lyme Borreliosis •  Q Fever •  Rabies •  Taeniasis •  Toxoplasmosis •  Trematodosis •  Trypanosomiasis •  Tuberculosis •  Tularaemia

> 70 % human pathogens are zoonoses!

FMD 2001

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a unified approach between veterinary and human medicine to improve Global Health.

„One World - One Health“

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Veterinary Public Health and

Human Public Health

together means

Global Public Health

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The Veterinary Profession is a

Health Profession!!

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Veterinary medicine is a Liberal and academic Profession (not a craft, trade, labour….)

• practised on the basis of relevant professional qualifications

•  providing intellectual and conceptual services in the interest of the client and the public

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•  Science •  Knowledge / Skills •  Ethics / Attitude

Veterinarians fulfil their responsibilities based on

FVE sees Veterinary Education

as a key factor!

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Veterinary Universities / Faculties are the

Alma mater of the veterinary profession!!!

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Profession and Universities / Faculties are connected like

'communicating vessels' • without academia our profession

decreases to a handicraft • without profession the faculties are

simply research institutes

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Legal background of the veterinary profession and education is the

Directive 2005/36/EC about the recognition of professional

qualifications Dilemma:

education is still under competence of member states

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The unquestioning recognition of veterinary degrees demands harmonisation of veterinary

education:

conditions laid down in Anex V

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Anex V •  minimum of 5 years course •  minimum requirements of schedules •  first day skills •  …..

…..developed in the 70ies!

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Omnipotence versus specialisation:

In a highly developed profession like Veterinary Medicine we need

specialisation!!!

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FVE stands for Specialisation based on a knowledge of the whole field of

veterinary medicine as laid down in Directive 36/2005:

“The distribution of the theoretical and practical training among the various groups of subjects shall be balanced and coordinated in such a way that the knowledge and experience may be acquired in a manner which will enable veterinary surgeons to perform all their duties”

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One of the strength of our profession is the wide ranged education!

Veterinarians have basic knowledge: •  from comparative anatomy and

physiology to comparative pathology •  from medicine covering all relevant

species •  From biology and nature technologies

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Pre-grade specialisation can be helpful for future professional

development - but is a danger for the Veterinary Medicine

when it leads to loss or weakness of the basic knowledge of the whole field as stated in the Recognition Directive!

We will be specialists, competing on equal terms with those from other sciences

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Post grade specialisation: colleges of EBVS, national degrees,

private diplomas … No legal background yet! Need for further development,

recognition and harmonisation of a practise related specialisation in EU!!

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FVE , EAEVE and EBVS joined to ECCVT to develop, support and harmonise vet. education on the high level requested! ECOVE to organise and execute the evaluation of

faculties

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Next step, a common project of the profession and

faculties: Accreditaion

of establishments of veterinary training and mutual recognition with systems

outside of Europe!

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Biggest actual challenge: to obtain a legal background for the

veterinary education system in EU, to be able to implement all our quality measures

FVE is lobbying in EU institutions (Commission, Parliament and Council) in cooperation with important stakeholders like WVA, OIE and FAO

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One Profession - One Vision – One Voice

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Thank you for your attention!