Eleven global veterinary associations have signed a Position Statement calling for increased regulatory convergence and harmonization in order to ensure that veterinarians globally can access the medicines they need to treat their patients.

The Statement, initiated by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), is the latest step in its campaign to secure more equal access to vital veterinary medicines for companion animal veterinarians around the world.
Restricted access to veterinary medicines because of regulatory issues in regions of the world including Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, is a long-standing problem and limits the efforts of many veterinarians to provide optimal care to their patients. Sometimes, even essential medicines, such as those required to properly manage pain, are difficult to access, causing immense and unnecessary suffering.

The WSAVA recently formed a Therapeutics Guidelines Group (TGG) to spearhead its work in this area and to campaign to ensure more open access to these medications. Its new Position Statement is designed to raise awareness of the problems around regulation and to call on governments and regulatory bodies to act.

The Statement has been endorsed by:

• The World Veterinary Association
• HealthforAnimals
• The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations
• The Commonwealth Veterinary Association
• The Federación Iberoamericana de Asociaciones Veterinarias de Animales de Compañía
• The Federation of Asian Small Animal Veterinary Associations
• The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
• The Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations
• The Fédération des Associations Francophones Vétérinaires pour Animaux de Compagnie
• The Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association

It follows a 2018 Position Statement from the WSAVA outlining a range of factors which restrict global access to veterinary medicines and the significant impact on animal health and welfare this causes. This statement also received wide support from the veterinary sector, including those associations listed above.