In a first, India firms up veterinary clinic standards to ensure quality care, wider access, adequate staffing

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The central government has for the first time firmed up comprehensive national guidelines, including infrastructure and human resource requirements, to modernize medical care for livestock and companion animals such as dogs and cats, according to two government officials and a document reviewed by Mint.

The development is significant for India’s veterinary clinics and hospitals market, valued at $2.1 billion, according to Ken Research, a market intelligence and consulting firm. “The guidelines will help set minimum infrastructure and service benchmarks for veterinary hospitals and dispensaries across states, reducing regional disparities.

The benchmarks act as a planning and funding guide for states while upgrading and building veterinary infrastructure," one of the officials said, requesting anonymity. “Defining essential services and facilities ensures timely and quality animal healthcare at the grassroots level." The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) introduced the comprehensive national guidelines to modernize medical care for pet animals and livestock and ensure consistent service across the country, clearing disparities in access to quality veterinary care, especially in remote regions.

The DAHD set up a committee to advise on formulating minimum benchmarks for veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and providing actionable tools to strengthen facilities, define essential services and enhance overall livestock health. The committee’s recommendations, submitted on 19 November, have been accepted by the government as the framework for harmonizing veterinary infrastructure nationwide.