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It looks unlikely that there will be any change in the new 30-day limit between a veterinary visit and the prescription of an antimicrobial.
Under new guidelines from the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), a vet must not prescribe an antimicrobial for an animal unless they have clinically examined that animal in the last 30 days.
The guideline has sparked fears that in more remote areas of the country, farmers will be left without any veterinary service, as vets are unable to travel the distances required on a regular basis.
One farmer from Carrickfinn in Donegal says that is already the case on his farm.
Concerns
Fianna Fail’s Pat The Cope Gallagher raised the concerns of farmers in west Donegal with Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed in a parliamentary question on Tuesday 15 January.
He asked Minister Creed if he was aware his nominees to the VCI had twice voted to introduce the guidelines, despite the fact that they go beyond the requirements of the Department and the EU.
Minister Creed said VCI was the body responsible for the regulation of the practise of veterinary medicine and, as such, had the power to establish and review codes of professional conduct for vets.
In the most recent review of these codes in November 2018, the VCI inserted the new 30-day limit.
It stated that the revision was in response to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Client-patient-practise relationship
The new guidelines state that for vets to provide care for an animal, a client-patient-practise relationship (CPPR) must be formed with the owner of the animal.
One of the conditions of a CPPR is the prudent prescription of veterinary medicines.
The VCI acknowledged that what constitutes “prudent practise” can vary significantly.
It also recognised that the duration between clinical contact with the animal(s) concerned and prescription was a key component that was often “contentious”.
For newly appointed or consulting vets, it recommended clinical assessment immediately prior to advising on prescribing medication.
For a farmer’s existing vet, it stated 90 days could be expected to cover most practical situations for medicines, with the exception of antimicrobials, which have the shorter limit of 30 days.
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